For those interested in a Lenten action or different challenging thing to

give up here are a few suggestions/

Lenten Actions:

Think of a person with whom you have a strained relationship and make

some gesture toward improving that relationship.

Or

Schedule a fifteen minute period of silence each day to listen to your

heart and to the Lord speaking to you.

Or

Put a dollar in a jar for each time you use the Lord's name in cursing.

At the end of Lent give the money to a good charity. (This one really

made me realize how often I did, and has for the most part almost totally

eliminated the problem for me.)

What To Give Up......

Give up complaining......................focus on gratitude

Give up pessimism.......................become an optimist

Give up harsh judgments.................think kindly thoughts

Give up on worry........................trust Divine Providence

Give up on discouragement...............be full of hope

Give up bitterness......................turn to forgiveness

Give up hatred..........................return good for evil

Give up negativism......................be positive

Give up anger...........................be more patient

Give up pettiness.......................become mature

Give up gloom...........................enjoy the beauty that is all

around you

Give up jealousy........................pray for trust

Give up gossiping.......................control your tongue

Give up sin.............................turn to virtue

Give up giving up.......................hang in there!

I am working on my anger and tendency to make harsh judgments this year

as well as taking the fifteen minute silence break daily to listen to my

heart and Christ trying to speak to me.

Lord, with your loving care guide the penance we have begun. Help us to

persevere with love and sincerity.

Dennis