Lent Day 31

Fast: Call someone you have been avoiding. Offer her encouragement.

Pray: Pray in silence. “When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings of the mouth.” – St. Bonaventure

Give: Make toast with tea this afternoon. Invite your kids to sit at the table with you.

Lent Day 30

Fast: Give up an extra hour before bedtime. Read with your children — all of them.

Pray: For the next 3 minutes and 49 seconds, sit quietly with your eyes closed and pray this song: Come to Jesus

Give: “If people would do for God what they do for the world, what a great number of Christians would go to Heaven!” — St. John Vianney

Lent Day 29

Fast: After breakfast, take a walk. Leave the dishes, theroutine, the things on your to-do list. Take everyone with you but tell them it’s a silent walk. See how long you can all just listen to the outdoors.

Pray: Set a timer to go off every hour today. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of your husband (or wife!).

Give: Do one of “his” chores today. Don’t tell him you did it.

Lent Day 28

Fast: You are the world to your family. Be your best world for them and only them today.

Pray: Be still and know that God is with you. Right here, right now, in the mess and under the noise.

Give: When you face a motherly crisis, remember that way back on your wedding day God gave you all the graces you need to handle it. Claim them.

Lent Day 27

Fast: Refrain from self promotion. “The only way to makerapid progress along the path of divine love is to remain very little and to put all our trust in Almighty God. That is what I have done.” — St. Therese

Pray: Is there someone who inspires feelings of inferiority in you? Offer a Memorare for her intentions.

Give: Page through your wedding album with your children today. Remember how loved you felt that day. Love your family well.