More is less. No more giving up.

Some people give things up for Lent.   You know the list;  chocolate, ipad, Twitter, bread etc.   But then there are those who deliberately choose to add something to their lives for 40 days.   The subtraction we are accustomed to.   The addition, not so much.   The mathematics of Lent.   I love this shift of paradigm.

So in today’s post I am delighted to share and highlight one amazing 40 day journey that two readers of this blog just completed.  One that holds inspiration for us all.

Kelly Harbaugh and her daugher Libby, both  from Missouri, USA,  shared “for lent this year instead of giving up something, like soda or sweets, my college aged daughter suggested we each write a letter to someone for each of the forty days of lent.”  Great Gatsby!!  Egad!   These gals are crazy ambitious aren’t they!   But, I as soon as I heard about this I just had to learn more.

So here is how it worked.   They sat down.   They wrote.   Some letters were  hand written, others via computer.  Libby, who is 20, made a list on an index card of all the people she wanted to write.

People that had played a significant role in her life that she wouldn’t normally keep in regular contact with. This list went up on her wall and she chose a name each day.  She sat  down.   And she wrote.

Both Libby and Kelly wrote to people of all ages, 67 years young to 5 years old.   They wrote to past teachers, old neighbors, a girlfriend dieing of cancer (has since passed away).    They wrote to siblings, a young niece that was having tough time with kids at school,  ex-sister in laws and brother in laws,  first best friend ever, even someone they  had a falling out with.   No rock was left unturned.

I was curious to hear more from Libby as someone from a very techno savvy, e-tronic generation and this is what she said, “I often get lost in Facebook, texting, Twitter, Instagram, etc. But no value can be put on walking down to my mail box and having a letter decorated and handwritten from a friend.”   Ok, it must be said, I love her!

So, you might wonder, what happened.   How did all the people that received their letters respond?   Respond they did.   Here is just a sampling:

• “Thank you soooooooo much for my awesome letter. I was actually having a crappy day in my office and then I got your card and it made all the difference. You rock. Happy Lent and what a cool idea. I may have to borrow it next year!”   From Ms. Jody P. (teacher)
• “Thank you for the sweet note for the girls! you made my day! I could not ask for a better role model for my children! we love it when you are home!!! HOPE you have a great weekend!” From Mrs. Ellen C.(mom of girls Libby babysat).
•  “Got your letter. Literally so inspired by your Lenten resolution. I am obsessed with this. Also loved the handwriting on the outside. Didn’t even have to look twice to know it was your writing.”  Julie C.  (highschool friend)
• “as great and easy as emails are, it is always nice to get a ‘real’ note’; a tangible thing to hold, to look at, open up and read.  Thanks for the reminder that friendship makes the world sweeter.”   Barb F. (friend of Kelly’s)
• “When we are kind and love one another, sometimes our kindness and love reach their destination and just the right moment. The moment when that person needs it the most. How blessed it is to be the wings of God’s Grace.” Mr. John M. (teacher)

Ripple effects are certain to continue from this “Lenten Letters” project.   May you also be inspired to just sit down and write.

P.S.  Of course this particular post would not have been possible without the input and story of Libby and Kelly Harbaugh.    Thank you so very much!

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