Seems like it was just New Year’s, and here it is Lent on February 26th. If you haven’t had time to decide what you’ll be doing for 40 days, don’t panic, we’re here to support you through your Lenten Journey.

In January 2020, iAmplify launched our newest outreach, Little With Great Love (LWGL) focused on sharing stories from a group of contributors with the common goal of restoration. That community is established on the mission of doing little things with great love. It is inspired by the spiritualities of Sts. Thérèse Of Lisieux and Teresa of Calcutta. To honor this, that team is launching the first Little With Great Love Lenten initiative, “40 Days of Kindness” for Lent 2020.

“God has created us so we do small things with great love. I believe that in great love, that comes, or should come from the heart, should start at home; with my family, my neighbors across the street, those right next door. And this love should then reach everyone.”

– ST. MOTHER TERESA

Kindness is a principle that is mentioned throughout the Bible. God exhibits kindness, and it is an attribute of his that we are also called to imitate. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we are called to “clothe” ourselves with it.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

-COLOSSIANS 3:12

A Fruit of the Holy Spirit as well, kindness is one of the “perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory” (CCC 1832). Nine of the twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit are derived from Galatians 5:22-23. When we allow the grace of the Holy Spirit to be effective in us, it produces good fruit – among which is showing kindness.

For the next 40 days, the LWGL team will be doing these acts of kindness together with you, in our homes, with our families, our neighbors, in our communities. These selfless acts for others are meant to show others that they are cared for and to help us put the needs of others first. This Lenten initiative allows the Holy Spirit to bear good fruit through us.

This is a super easy Lenten initiative to follow. There are no books to read, podcasts to listen to, or emails to keep up with. Everything you need to get started is laid out here. To make it even easier, LWGL will also be posting each act of kindness daily across  Facebook and Instagram plus showing each team member doing the acts along with you in our social media stories.

WHAT IS THIS LENTEN INITIATIVE ABOUT?

The “40 Days of Kindness” Lenten initiative is comprised of 40 acts of kindness performed by each of us, one done on each of the 40 days of Lent.

WHEN DOES THIS OCCUR?

We will start on Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020. We will do it the 40 days (excludes Sundays, as is customary) until Holy Saturday, April 8, 2020.

WHAT DO I NEED TO START?

The simplest way to participate is by using a FREE 1-page downloadable calendar {here}. It lists the days, dates, and acts of kindness for each day all in one spot. Download it here, print, and post it where you’ll see it daily to remind you.

Follow LWGL on Facebook and Instagram, where they will be posting the daily acts plus showing each team member doing the acts along with you in our social media stories. If you post on social media, please use the hashtag #littlekinder and tag us so that we can follow your journey too and share along with ours too!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Just like the LWGL team, start doing the acts of kindness posted for each corresponding day of Lent.

Then look for the impact these little acts done with great love have on others as well as yourself. Did someone smile? Did it make their day? Did they want to pay it forward? How about you, how did it make you feel?

DO I NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE?

No –- simply download, print, follow, act kindly. You don’t need to sign up for anything. Posting on social media is optional, but it does serve as encouragement for others to do acts of kindness, too.

“Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.”

-ST. THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX

Acts of kindness are ways to serve and honor the dignity of our family, neighbors, friends, coworkers and the like. We believe that this initiative will have positive ripple effects, as we each work to put a bit more kindness out into the world. Allow the Holy Spirit to also bear good fruit in our communities.

Little With Great Love will be sharing what the team is doing each day of Lent and would love to hear how your experience is going on the journey as well. So please join in, leave comments, chat with them on social media, or send them a message.

Wishing you a blessed Lent. Let’s make it a #littlekinder Lent together.