Lent ?

merlot, to say I'm sorry is something of an understatement.

I would urge you to get proper , professional support for yourself.

merlot. A dreadful time for you all.

You see Merlot I think your input to this thread is really really important it puts things into perspective
What is the idea of giving something up for a few weeks all about? what does it achieve? What’s the point? Do you still buy the chocolate and crisps and give them to someone in need or is it about beating yourself up, a penence, I don’t understand what is achieved that can’t be done at any time of the year Do you pat yourself on the back when the month ends or is it just a habit from childhood days that your supersticious to get rid of this habit

Merlot there is nothing I can say, it’s heartbreaking I hope a medical miracle can and does happen ?

It is nearly six weeks not a month , Christ went into the wilderness for forty days and Lent reminds Christians of this, there are also Lent prayer groups and Lent Bible study.

Merlot I have no words to bring you or your family comfort, when I needed to off load I found Gransnett a place for me and my worries, without adding to the burden of my family.

Sending you love and hugs ??

Grannygravy that's very ambitious giving up all three of my favourite treats.

Posted before I read everything. Merlotgran I'm so sorry, a terrible time for your family, I hope you all find the strength and courage to get through this. Rage all you want we will be here. Sending love and hugs too

GransNet got me through the darkest days of my life

Merlotgran so sorry for you and your family my husband had the same sort of rage when his son died I think it's a natural response of how unfair life can be.

Forgot to say, when I started the thread yesterday "Do you think your mother would have appreciated GN" this would definitely have been a thread that would have appealed to her as a practising catholic who took her religion seriously.

I'm going to try and give up bread, although that's probably too optimistic, so I'll say cut back instead.

merlot I'm so sorry to hear what your family is going through. Keep coming to GN if it helps you at all. Sending you love and hugs.

As merlotgran doesn't want to derail the thread, I will carry on with it while thinking of her.

Usually we give up chocolate, but for various reasons that doesn't seem like a good idea this year (which probably means that it is exactly that). Bellasnana, the idea of giving up clothes is a really good one, and I must give it some thought. Not sure I could manage 40, but maybe Things could be added, as we must have lots of them which a charity shop could use and we don't need. Thank you!

But if they are clothes not needed it isn’t the same as giving up something you don’t want to deprive yourself of surely ?

It is a kind thing to do, not being picky , just can’t see the connection

Annie, just for once I am going to disagree with you. Many people buy clothes and keep them, even though they know that some of them will never be worn.

By taking on clearing your wardrobe for Lent, you are imposing a personal discipline on yourself, if it was not Lent you probably wouldn't be undertaking the clear out. Hopefully when Easter comes you will have also have thought through your attitude to clothes, why you constantly buy them, how it is a statement about you will have made good resolutions to limit your future clothes purchasing to what clothes you need, not what clothes you want.

If the discarded clothes go to charity shops and not to the tip and if you have reformed your attitude to clothes, you are making a contribution towards reducing environmental pollution and global warming.

The purpose of Lenten actions, was always to act as a lesson in personal self-discipline and self-denial, to help us be in more controlled and thoughtful in our actions afterwards and while they have a religious significance for some. Most people, whether they are religious or not will benefit from setting a side a month of the year when they accustom themselves to being self disciplined by denying themselves something they enjoy.

Look at the success of dry Januarys and Vegan Februarys.

Merlot Sending strengthening thoughts and much love to you all [flower]

Merlot, I know you are so very angry, but BradfordLass72, put it well I thought

“God and I have this agreement.
He knows I find it hard to believe in his existence and is quite understanding about it. If at any time I change my mind, he says, he'll be there, as in fact he is anyway.”

We are both going through a sticky patch at the moment, so although your anger and anguish are many times more than ours, I send you love and hope. God bless.

Thanks again everyone for you very kind messages. They help so much.

The last few days have left me exhausted tonight. DH is being an absolute rock but like most men he tends to keep his feelings bottled up. I need to keep an eye on him as his health is not always good.

We're just taking each day as it comes.

I've just started back at church after more than fifteen years so yes I will think of something. I will probably do something rather than give something up.
Thanks for the reminder Anniebach.

Oh Merlotgran I am so sorry. No words to say, it is not fair. You just don't expect this of your children before you. xx

Oh god all these environmental concerns nowadays. I wish we could go back to the olden days sometimes.
No wonder we feel stressed or low.
We overthink everything.
?

MOnica I can’t see disposing something you don’t want discipline sorry , true cleaning out cupboards etc needs discipline. But surely the clothes wouldn’t end up in a dump, no matter what time of year,

Merlot,I am so very sorry,difficult to find words but sending love and strength to you all?

annepl hope you are content with your decision to return to Church worship , I love Easter . X

I'm going to reach out to a few more people who need someone to care. One of these will be my ex husband and father of my daughter, as he is in dire need of help right now. I've done it before and it's not easy as I find it leaves me low in spirit. I've been divorce from him for over 30 years. He's always been stubborn and is now old and more stubborn! It's not because I'm a religious person, I'm not. It's because I know it's the right thing to do. It depresses me going to his home, but there is no one else. (DD lives abroad.)

My son has just said he's giving up chocolate cakes biscuits it was crispss last year all of his office trying to give something up! I'm still thinking??