Reflections on the 40acts journey

My favourite act was ‘don’t hold back the wonderful’ – leaving an anonymous note of encouragement for a stranger really appealed to me as I love writing letters.  The most challenging was probably ‘Go guerrilla’ as being inconspicuous is not so easy with two small children in tow!  Overall I think I managed to complete all 40acts – some of them were perhaps best described as ‘40acts lite’ – I caught the gist of the challenge rather than fully embracing it.  It’s been an interesting journey through Lent though and one I would definitely like to continue for the rest of the year.

Act 41 - Prayer walk

Today’s special extra act was a prayer walk in central London organised by the 40acts team and starting at Trafalgar Square where we met up.  It was lovely to meet Alex and David from the 40acts team and fellow challenger Toby.  We prayed together at Trafalgar Square and took a walk together towards Leicester Square where we shared our stories and reflections about the 40acts challenges over coffee.  Hearing different perspectives about how the challenges were met has given me a few more ideas for how I can continue to carry on with the generosity challenges through Easter and beyond.

Act 40 - Celebrate

It’s the final day of 40acts and today's act encourages us to get together with our neighbours and celebrate.  My local get-together took place on Tuesday when I invited some of the other mums from my village over for coffee, tea and cake (it was lovely weather so we got to sit in the garden and enjoy the sunshine).  There were eight of us – four mums and four children.  It’s only been in the last year that I have got to know other mums locally and it’s good to be able to sit and chat whilst the children play together.

Act 39 - Share your story

Today’s act encourages us to share our story, to let others know how God has worked in our lives.  The most significant step on my journey of faith so far has been trusting God since discovering my daughter has a severe heart defect.  That story is shared more fully here but we are blessed with a beautiful happy two year old daughter today after being told that she was unlikely to be suitable for surgery and would probably not survive the pregnancy.  God has been so very good to us and we thank Him every day for our beautiful girl. 

Act 38 - Wipe the slate

Today’s act is all about forgiveness.  I know that there is a particular person who I have struggled to forgive for past hurts.  Today I have chosen to forgive and resolved to push away any potential bitter thoughts if they re-emerge.  I have chosen to accept and embrace the relationship we have today rather than mourn the closeness we once had.  It is time to let go of the past, to stop dwelling on what I cannot change and move forward.  People are human, they change and lives move on and it is time to stop letting bitterness control me.

Act 37 - Be second

Today’s act encourages us to let someone else lead our schedule for the day, to put another person’s priorities above our own.  As a full-time mummy with two small children, this is what I do most of the time but as suggested, I called up a friend and proposed catching up at a time and place convenient for her as I had some free time to spend with her.  We had a lovely afternoon sitting and chatting over a cuppa at a local garden centre whilst Jessica enjoyed running around in the soft play area and Sophie enjoyed having cuddles.