Ash Wednesday – Beginning of Lent and a 40 Day Challenge

Bread and water during lent. (Photo by: Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Lent is a time of reflection for many Christians, as they look back on and celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.

For Christians, this is a way to remember the time Jesus spent 40 days and nights alone in the desert, being tempted by Satan.

Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, which is a day of penitence or cleansing of the soul.

Christians who attend Lent services will be marked with a cross of ashes on their forehead.

This symbol is based on a concept from the book of Genesis that humankind came into the world from dust, and will return to it upon death.

The following 40 days are taken as an opportunity to remember Jesus’ death – many give something up, and some take something on during this time.

I saw this on a European Website and thought I’d share it.  I think it has some great, easy to do things to keep us mindful this Lent.

What nice things can you do each day for the 40 day Lent challenge?

When does Lent start and what is the 40 day Lent challenge?
(Picture: Getty)

1st March – Engage in conversation with the people who serve you (e.g. shop keepers)

2nd March – Say thank you to someone as they work and say how much you appreciate them

3rd March – Call in on an elderly neighbor – take some cake, have a cup of tea and a chat

4th March – Shop locally and support local farmers, local veg growers and local shops

5th March – Show some love to your neighborhood and pick up litter or see if there is anything more you can recycle at home

6th March – Hold doors open for those behind you

7th March – Smile at people

(Picture: Lucas Alves Magalhães) Man Is Shocked When His Dog Walks In With A Weird New Smile
(Picture: Lucas Alves Magalhães)

8th March – Be a nice driver – spread road-calm!

9th March – Email / write to a local charity you think does a great work and thank them and those who volunteer

10th March – Take time to pray for your neighbors

11th March – Spread the niceness on Facebook and Twitter – compliment some of your friends

12th March – Set up a Blessing Bag – a bag of items you keep in your car that can be used to bless other people

13th March – Write a letter to a local emergency service and thank them for the work they do

14th March – Say hello to people

15th March – Look at joining or setting up a Neighborhood Watch scheme

16th March – Spot ways of helping people and do it

17th March – Go on a thankful walk – see all the positive things you can be thankful for in your neighborhood

18th March – Buy Fairtrade where you can today

A person shows unroasted fairtrade coffee beans during the exhibition "World of coffee", on June 27, 2013, in Nice, southeastern France. AFP PHOTO / JEAN CHRISTOPHE MAGNENET (Photo credit should read JEAN-CHRISTOPHE MAGNENET/AFP/Getty Images)
(Picture: Getty)

19th March – Take a single person (elderly person, single mum…) out for Sunday lunch

20th March – Consider investing some time volunteering – could you give 24 hours over the next year?

21st March – Commit to collect used stamps for The Leprosy Mission

22nd March – Catch a bus (#Do1NiceThing for the environment) and say thank you to the bus driver

23rd March – Give a drink to a homeless person

24th March – Email / write to your MP and say thank you for representing you and that you are praying for them

25th March – Take a prayer walk round your neighbourhood

Mothering Sunday 26th March – Take some flowers to mothers and grandmas on your street

27th March – Buy seeds ready to create a wildlife garden (or tub or window box!)

2017 wedding flower trends
(Picture: Wild Renata Flowers)

28th March – Look for ways to volunteer one hour of your time for someone else

29th March – Email your local councillors and say thank you for what they do and offer to pray for them

30th March – Take time to discover some new tourist attraction in your area (eg wildlife park, play area, etc)

31st March – Give away a book you think is worth reading

1st April – Pay for the drink of the person behind you in a coffee shop

2nd April – Write some inspirational messages on Post-It notes and randomly leave for people to find

3rd April – Help someone down the stairs or hold open a door for someone with a pram

4th April – Sit in a coffee shop and chat to some strangers or pay for a strangers’ drink

5th April – Offer your skills to someone else for free

6th April – Write a letter to the boss of someone who has given excellent customer service to tell them so

7th April – Clear out unwanted items and give to a charity shop

8th April – Organize a free car wash for your community

When does Lent start and what is the 40 day Lent challenge?
(Picture: Getty)

Palm Sunday 9th April – Thank people for the virtues they have

10th April – Send flowers to a friend as a thank you for your friendship

11th April- Give an inspirational book to someone you don’t know

12th April – Take a box of chocolates to work and say thank you to your colleagues

Maundy Thursday 13th April – Easter Weekend – Provide someone with a service

Good Friday 14th April – Put spare change in a charity box

15th April – Visit a local shop you have not visited before or in a while (support locally!)

Easter Sunday 16th April – Get together with others to organise a community or church Easter Egg hunt

Credit: Love Your Streets

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