You can’t hurry Lent: it’s a game of give (up) and take (up)

Give up:

• Using glitter in every craft activity – Lent may be the time to finally wake up without unwanted sparkles in your hair!
• Dressing the age of your young people. You cannot pull off the same swag as a 15-year-old.
• Trying to beat your children or young people at snap, Uno, Top Trumps, pool or table football. Winning against a ten-year-old for the fourth consecutive week is no cause for celebration.
• Eating the children’s snacks. You do not have their metabolism or their dietry requirements.

Take up:

• Time travel, Harry Potter-style, so that you can be in two places at once.
• (Even more) excessive caffeine consumption so that you can match the energy of your little ones.
• The enchanted flute (like Mr Tumnus in Narnia) to lull your children to sleep during particularly hectic Sunday school sessions.
• Weights so that you can lift three children and four chairs at the same time.

For some more serious suggestions…

• Christian Aid have some helpful resources for counting your blessings during Lent.
• Missio have put together Lenten assemblies and presentations that draw on Catholic social teaching.
• World Vision look at some spiritual disciplines over the Lenten period.
• Tearfund recommend a carbon fast over Lent to help reduce climate change. They suggest everything from removing a light bulb and growing vegetables, to customising old clothes and eating less meat.
• The Church of England have released resources for parents and churches around Lent.
• As ever, 40 Acts are on hand with 40 ways to be generous this Lent.