Okay, y’all, Lent is here! Timmerie shares some super practical ways to grow this season. Whether you're a sleep-deprived mom, a married couple looking for spiritual connection, or just someone trying to figure out what to give up (besides chocolate for the 12th year in a row), she’s got you covered. 

 

 

Mom Life: Surviving (and Thriving) Spiritually with Toddlers

 

Busy mom? No problem.

Timmerie gets it: tiny humans demand everything, but that doesn’t mean Lent is a lost cause. She suggests:

 

-Wake up before your kids (even if it’s painful) to pray. It sets the tone for the day.

 

-Start your day on your knees. Even if it’s just a quick “Jesus, help me,” it models prayer for your kids.

 

-Use bedtime struggles for prayer time. Stuck snuggling a kid who won’t sleep? Offer it up and pray for them instead of doom-scrolling.

 

(Bonus: Less frustration when bedtime takes forever.)

 

 

Married Couples: Level Up Your Prayer Game

 

If you’re not praying together, Lent is the perfect time to start. Timmerie’s top picks:

 

-Pray the Rosary together. Simple, powerful, and brings grace.

 

Night prayer! Do an Examination of Conscience together and end the day in peace.

 

Read “Discernment of Spirits in Marriage” by Fr. Timothy Gallagher. Highly recommended for deepening your spiritual connection.

 

(Imagine finishing Lent actually feeling closer to your spouse.)

 

 

What to Give Up or Do for a Meaningful Lent?

 

The winning formula from Timmerie: "Pray. Give up sin. Go to confession."

 

-Figure out your biggest struggle and attack it head-on.

 

-Replace sin with virtue. Struggle with gossip? Work on speaking words of encouragement.

 

-Beg God for the grace to actually change. (Because, let’s be honest, white knuckling it alone never works.)

 

(Confession isn’t just a suggestion... it’s a game-changer.)

 

 

Finding a Spiritual Director (Without Losing Your Mind)

 

Looking for an Ignatian spiritual director? Timmerie recommends:

 

-Books by Fr. Timothy Gallagher: Start there!

 

-Checking out the Divine Mercy University on the East Coast, where lay people are trained in spiritual direction.

 

-Being open to the reality that not all priests are trained (or available) for spiritual direction. It’s okay to seek guidance from a trained layperson.

 

(Basically, don’t get discouraged if your parish priest is too busy... other great options exist!)

 

 

How Do You Know What to Do This Lent?

 

Grow where you’re planted.

 

-Whether you’re single, married, struggling, thriving, lonely, or overwhelmed: God has placed you here for a reason.

 

-Ask yourself: What does holiness look like in my current season of life?

 

-Lent isn’t about changing your circumstances; it’s about letting God change YOU within your circumstances.

 

 

Bottom Line:

 

Lent is about growing in holiness, right where you are. Whether it’s carving out prayer time, deepening your marriage, fighting sin, or just staying faithful in the small stuff, God has major graces waiting for you.

 

So… what’s your game plan this Lent? Let’s go! 

 

(P.S. Share this with a friend who always forgets it’s Friday and accidentally eats a cheeseburger.)