Have you tried reading for Lent?
I used to give things up for letter - candies, but not at weekends 'cause that's when my granddad gave me chocolate; watching a favorite TV show, but not if it was one my brothers would be watching (it wasn't just the temptation to join them; it was not wanting them to know I'd given anything up, because they'd tease me); spending sixpence on treats (hot chocolate) at school, but only if my friends weren't spending their sixpences (same problem)... Then I started doing extra things for Lent - not complaining about homework; getting up early to go to church on a weekday; reading my Bible... And then I grew up and got busy and didn't always remember. But Lent starts on Wednesday, so here are some good books you might want to "pick up" instead of "giving up." And drink coffee. No, I'm not giving up coffee for Lent!
First is a book on Holy Week, which comes at the end of Lent. I'd definitely recommend Walking Through Holy Week by Karen May: Say, a chapter a day throughout the season (chapter a day whenever you remember perhaps). I love how it takes you through the events of Holy Week, making everything real and relevant. Enjoy reading with some well-balanced full-flavored three-star coffee.
Then there's How to Fast Biblically by Kerri-Ann D. Watson, a book filled with practical encouragement and suggestions about many different types of fast, and historical paragraphs about people who've fasted. I'm still not tempted to try giving up food, but if you are, this one's for you, to be enjoyed with some intense dark five-star coffee.
An encouraging book to read during Lent with young girls might be the picture book Gritty and Graceful by Caryn Rivadeneira, illustrated by Sonya Abby Soekarno. Single page first-person stories tell the lives of 15 important women in the Bible, reminding young readers that God does great things for and through women. The images are nicely non-white Western as well. Enjoy with some well-balanced, smooth three-star coffee.
For something equally educational but less spiritual to share with small children, there's When Charley met Emma by Amy Webb, illustrated by Merrilee Liddiard. Charley's is sometimes different. Emma is always different. But Charley and readers will learn that different isn't weird after all, and questions are okay, and different people can play the same games. It's a wise lesson, nicely told in the story and reinforced with good advice for parents. Enjoy with some more well-balanced three-star coffee.
If you'd rather spend time in Lent with your cat, there are always Mollie Hunt's Cat Poems to ground and inspire you, a delightful small collection about small creatures (or a treasure about treasures)... Enjoy with some mild crisp one-star coffee.
And then there's Mihai Brinas' Invitation to Poetry, for those whose Lenten reads will be purely poetic (which has me thinking, maybe I'll read the Psalms in a poetic form - Jerusalem Bible version?). The free, unpunctuated verse felt odd initially but it's surprisingly enticing. Enjoy with some elegant complex four-star coffee.
First is a book on Holy Week, which comes at the end of Lent. I'd definitely recommend Walking Through Holy Week by Karen May: Say, a chapter a day throughout the season (chapter a day whenever you remember perhaps). I love how it takes you through the events of Holy Week, making everything real and relevant. Enjoy reading with some well-balanced full-flavored three-star coffee.
Then there's How to Fast Biblically by Kerri-Ann D. Watson, a book filled with practical encouragement and suggestions about many different types of fast, and historical paragraphs about people who've fasted. I'm still not tempted to try giving up food, but if you are, this one's for you, to be enjoyed with some intense dark five-star coffee.
An encouraging book to read during Lent with young girls might be the picture book Gritty and Graceful by Caryn Rivadeneira, illustrated by Sonya Abby Soekarno. Single page first-person stories tell the lives of 15 important women in the Bible, reminding young readers that God does great things for and through women. The images are nicely non-white Western as well. Enjoy with some well-balanced, smooth three-star coffee.
For something equally educational but less spiritual to share with small children, there's When Charley met Emma by Amy Webb, illustrated by Merrilee Liddiard. Charley's is sometimes different. Emma is always different. But Charley and readers will learn that different isn't weird after all, and questions are okay, and different people can play the same games. It's a wise lesson, nicely told in the story and reinforced with good advice for parents. Enjoy with some more well-balanced three-star coffee.
If you'd rather spend time in Lent with your cat, there are always Mollie Hunt's Cat Poems to ground and inspire you, a delightful small collection about small creatures (or a treasure about treasures)... Enjoy with some mild crisp one-star coffee.
And then there's Mihai Brinas' Invitation to Poetry, for those whose Lenten reads will be purely poetic (which has me thinking, maybe I'll read the Psalms in a poetic form - Jerusalem Bible version?). The free, unpunctuated verse felt odd initially but it's surprisingly enticing. Enjoy with some elegant complex four-star coffee.
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