Do Lent Generously, #40acts

For the next 40 days, I thought I would challenge myself and commit to doing Lent generously.  When I first saw this http://www.40acts.org.uk/the-challenge/, I thought how wonderful it would be to give back, do good and live generously.  But 40 days is a long time, so pray for me to make it to at least day 7, so I can make up an excuse that I have completed it since 7 is biblically a number of completion. 

Day 1: GRATITUDE

For the first day I’m supposed to create a journal and begin a gratitude list.  I keep an electronic journal so I took a picture of my computer and a listography book that I adore. 

Gratitude is nonetheless the essence of our faith.  Eucharist means thanksgiving.  But often times, it is still hard for me to thank people.  This isn’t because I am not grateful and am not able to express my gratitude, it is because I have the tendency to ask for help only as the last resort.  I want to prove to myself that I am not dependent on anyone and can handle things by myself most of the time.  Therefore, a “thank you” means I am no longer in control because I am not self-sufficient. 

But thank goodness there are people in my life that are able to smack the arrogance and pride out of me sometimes.  The kind and generous people that humble me, the holy people that inspire me, and the whole-hearted people that love me.  They remind me what it truly means to live a Eucharistic life, to always praise God and give thanks to the abundance of God’s goodness.  The Lord gives and the Lord… gives some more.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!

And how blessed am I for having awesome people that donated bibles for my confirmation class.  They arrived today and I am genuinely thankful for your generosity.  This is the fruits of your kindness, not pictured below are ten little Mother Teresa prayer booklets for Lent that are coming (I had extra money left for this so our God is not a “God-of-just-enough” but a “God-of-more-than-enough”!).  I was also gifted this crown of thorns from the Bethlehem area.  I’m truly grateful and thankful for your support in spreading the Joy of the Gospel.  My prayers are with you during this holy season.         

 

They say 'giving is better than receiving' so I always choose the lesser of the two and give other people a chance to do the better.  The small sacrifices I make on a daily basis :)  Have a blessed Lent everyone!