What to Give Up for Lent When Your Whole Life Feels Like Lent?
Lent is here again—a season of penance, prayer, and preparation for the joy of Easter. But for many of us, the idea of “giving something up” can feel overwhelming, especially when life has already handed us heavy crosses to bear. Maybe you’re grieving the recent loss of a beloved spouse, the wound still raw. Perhaps you’ve suffered yet another miscarriage, your arms aching for the child you long to hold. Or your business—the one you poured your heart into—is crumbling; your adult child has walked away from the Church; or your husband of 20 years has just said he no longer loves you and left. These are hard, heavy burdens. If your life already feels like a perpetual Lent, what more can you possibly give up?
You’re not alone in this. Between the daily grind and the deep desire to pass on a legacy of faith to our husbands, children, and grandchildren, it’s easy to see Lent as just another weight on our shoulders. But here’s the beautiful truth: Lent isn’t about adding more to your load—it’s about drawing closer to Christ and uniting your sufferings to His. This year, let’s reframe what “giving up” means when life already demands so much. Here are five ideas crafted for you—devout Catholic women seeking to deepen your own devotion while nurturing faith in those you love.
1. Give Up the Guilt of Not Doing “Enough”
You’ve poured years into your family’s spiritual life—teaching bedtime prayers, coaxing sleepy kids to Mass, or gently encouraging your husband to join you in the pews. Yet, maybe you feel it’s not enough. Shouldn’t you be praying longer Rosaries, volunteering more, or fasting like a saint? This Lent, let go of that guilt. Jesus doesn’t tally your worth by completed novenas. Offer Him your daily acts of love—the packed lunches, the quiet prayers, the steady example you set—and trust it’s enough. Share a simple story with your kids or grandkids about a time God met you in your chaos. They’ll carry your peace far longer than your perfection.
2. Surrender the Need to Fix Everything
We’re nurturers by nature. We ache to heal our children’s struggles, ease our husband’s burdens, and ensure our grandkids grow up rooted in faith. But Lent whispers a humbling truth: we’re not the Savior—Jesus is. This year, give up the urge to control every outcome. Instead, entrust your loved ones to God with a small, tangible act: light a candle and pray, “Lord, I give You my family. Work in their hearts where I can’t.” Invite your family to join you—a one-minute prayer before dinner works wonders. Younger moms, this slips easily into your busy days; older moms, it’s a gentle legacy to leave behind.
3. Let Go of a Hidden Resentment
Life’s sacrifices can leave scars—a quiet bitterness toward a spouse who doesn’t share your faith, a child who’s left the Church, or even God for prayers that seem unanswered. Lent is the perfect time to release that weight. It’s not about denying the pain; it’s about offering it to Christ, who bore far heavier loads. Try this: write a resentment on a slip of paper and (safely!) burn it as a symbol of letting go. If it feels right, share the moment with your family—older kids or grandkids might connect with your honesty, sparking a talk about forgiveness.
4. Fast From Distraction, Feast on Presence
Chocolate or wine might not tempt us as much these days, but distraction? That’s a struggle we all know. Endless scrolling, worrying about tomorrow, or replaying yesterday steals our peace—and our time with God and family. This Lent, give up five minutes of distraction daily. Replace it with something small yet rich: a decade of the Rosary, a quick Scripture verse, or a moment of silence with Jesus. Younger moms, try this with your kids—read a Gospel line and ask, “What’s Jesus saying to us?” Older moms, share it with grandkids over a call. It’s a tiny seed that could bloom for years.
5. Offer Up Your Weariness
When life feels like Lent year-round, don’t force yourself to give up more—offer up what you’re already carrying. The exhaustion from a sick child’s sleepless nights, the heartache of a loved one’s distance from faith, the grief of loss, the effort to keep your home a place of prayer—these are your sacrifices. Unite them to Christ’s cross. In the hard moments, whisper, “Jesus, I give this to You.” Then, let your family see it. Tell your kids or grandkids, “When life’s heavy, I offer it to Jesus—He makes it lighter.” That lesson could shape their faith forever.
A Lenten Gift for Your Soul—and Theirs
This Lent, you don’t need to heap on more penance to prove your love for God. He sees your life—every tear shed, every prayer whispered, every cross carried—and calls it holy. Whether you’re a busy mom weaving faith into daily chaos or a grandmother safeguarding a legacy, release what weighs you down and cling to what lifts you up: His grace. Let your family witness it. Your quiet strength might just be the spark that keeps their faith alive.
Need a tangible companion for this Lenten journey? A Rosary to hold during your five-minute pause, a sacred art piece to gaze at in prayer, or a cross necklace to remind you of the One who carries it all can anchor your days. These small tools can bless both you and those you love.
What will you give up this Lent? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to pray with you through these 40 days!
