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Q: Dear Rabbi Gellman, I just finished reading your article "What do you give up for Lent? As a Catholic person, my husband and I raised our children in the Catholic faith. And as we were raised we taught our children to "give up something for Lent. It was always candy and chocolate – they could break their fast on Sunday and have sweets. However, as they got older (around 12 years old), I decided that they should do something more meaningful – they were asked what they could do and surprisingly one of them said, be nicer to each other. Yeah! They decided to do at least one thing to help their brother or sister each week. Believe it or not, that was harder than it sounded for 12 year olds. In future years, they did not only help their immediate family, but they began to do something nice for a neighbor, our church or sports teams they played on, etc. This idea led them to become helpful to society as they volunteered for charitable organizations in later years. They are now adults with their own children and are passing on the same beliefs/helpfulness to their children to do charitable actions during and after Lent. Thank you. – (From L in Medford, NY))

A: Dear L., your touching note reminds us all of the way sacred times transform us and then we transform our children and then all of us transform the world. God bless you.

Q: Attending Mass more often, besides Sunday. Also, no lattes from Dunkin', which was only weekly to begin with. At my church I will take part in the Stations of the Cross. Most of all, try to improve my relationship with God. It is day by day. Or be a better practicing Catholic. I enjoy conversations with God, as well as conventional prayer. Just being thankful for each day given to me. I am truly blessed. – (From B from Deer Park, NY)

A: And your church is blessed to have you.

Q: Hi Rabbi Gellman, first let me say I truly love your column and have read it for decades. I met you once at a bar mitzvah in Dix Hills and your sermon/service was wonderful. As a Catholic I don’t get to go to many of them. This year for Lent I gave up sarcasm. I try hard but it seems like I give it up again every day. Still this makes me conscious of every time and that will help in the long run, I hope. I told my husband I’d only give up talking under my breath (which is mostly sarcastic when he starts wearing his hearing aids). I’ll keep trying. Can’t seem to give up cursing completely until I give up golfing. Thank you again for your column. As a Newsday retiree I will continue reading it as long as you write it. –

(From K)

A: Sounds great but giving up golf, in my opinion, would be a sacrifice too far.

Q: Dear Rabbi Gellman, you ask what we are giving up for Lent. I am in my 80s, widowed, retired and on a fixed income. Money is tight so I give up time. I volunteer three days a week. It’s extremely fulfilling. I meet the most amazing people and it keeps me moving. I can’t understand why more people aren’t willing to volunteer these days. So for Lent I give up some time, some possessions and some blood. I plan to keep doing that for as long as I am able. Thank you, I so enjoy your column. – (From M)

And these tender words from B:

Dear Rabbi Gellman, I have enjoyed your columns for years and thought you might be interested in the statements from Pope Francis. I have had it on my refrigerator for several years and it reminds me to be kind because you never know the problems that other people are carrying. I believe that in the end we will be judged more on how we treat others than how long we fast or abstain.

Warm regards.

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

A: And finally, if all these high and holy Lenten sentiments are too much for you, I shall close with these brief thoughts from J:

Gave up smoking weed. 73 years old. Food fasting is easy in comparison.

A: DUDE! I pray that a weed-free Lent might produce a weed-free life.

Have a blessed Lent.

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available.)

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