Giving things up for Lent so often seems a struggle.

And WHY give up chocolate anyway? What good is that to anyone else except yourself? If you need a diet, well have one.....but don't kid yourself you're being specially "holy"!!

Taking on stuff could be good......a bit more prayer, a Lent Group, a bit more pastoral visiting.

Last year, I believe, one of the Diocesan Days for Clergy in Canterbury drew our attention to another sort of giving up: give up moaning; give up resentment; give up holding a grudge; give up being pushy and so on.....

Take a look at Ten Ideas for Lent. You might also buy the book and read it.