For the first time ever, I have actually gotten my Lenten supplies out of storage before Lent started.  I don’t have much, but one thing I do have is images of the stations of the cross, which we try to pray every Friday during Lent.  Usually, it hits that first Friday, and I remember that I forgot, but it’s too late to go digging, so I put it off until the next Friday…and sometimes then it’s too late to go digging…

But I am all ready to go.  Great thing about a late start to the season, I suppose.

One thing I’m doing this year is encouraging the kids to turn their sacrifices or acts of charity into quarters with a family goal of raising enough money to buy a water pump for a village in a poor country.  A water pump costs $205, so at a rate of $0.25 per deed, we will need to do 820 things in 40 days to “earn” the pump.  I think the kids will like having a tangible goal…sometimes reward in Heaven is just too out there.  I am assembling a list of things to do to merit a quarter.  Here’s what I have so far.  Anything else you can think of?

 

·         Pray a rosary for the poor.

·         Give up dessert or some other favorite food for a day.

·         Walk away from or ignore an annoying person.

·         Stop doing an obnoxious behavior.

·         Give up electronics for the day.

·         Do someone else’s chore.

·         Change a stinky diaper.

·         Pay someone a compliment.

·         Say you’re sorry for hurting someone.

·         Do all your schoolwork.

·         Hold your temper.

·         Let somebody else pick the game.

·         Be cheerful when you don’t feel like it.

·         Listen when you’d rather talk.

·         Do an extra chore.

·         Come the first time you are called or obey immediately.

·         Forgive someone…

·         …especially if they don’t seem sorry.

·         Thank someone for helping you.

·         Do a good deed.

·         Say a kind word.