If you haven’t already heard, we’re all in for something crazy this February: Valentine’s Day this year falls on Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. In Christian tradition, Lent is a time marked by prayer, penance, and reflection geared towards spiritual growth. Lots of people give up something as a Lenten sacrifice (like chocolate or social media), and Ash Wednesday in particular is a day of fasting and prayer.
This will obviously make Valentine’s Day 2018 a bit tricky for those of us observing Lent. I’m pretty sure my brain short-circuited when I realized I couldn’t give my husband ANYTHING involving food (unless I wanted to make him wait a whole day to enjoy it), and I’m pretty sure he was worried about what to get me too. Luckily, I’m a reader, which makes me super easy to buy for even in the midst of a 40-day penance. This inspired me to make a list for other gift givers who might be looking to wow the reader in their life while still honoring the spirit of the Lenten season. Here are my 10 Lent-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts for book lovers—sure to blow their minds!
Lent-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gifts for Book Lovers
Fact: We readers LOVE journals, even if we don’t actually do any journaling. We write notes, lists, drafts of the next great American novel, etc. Plus, a lot of people take up prayer journaling during Lent.
Ordering from the list of past boxes will help ensure you don’t accidentally order something with chocolate/coffee/other stuff your lovable reader may have given up for Lent.
These could be prayer journals, guides to spiritual reflections, biographies of the saints, etc. This particular book features devotions written by a variety of women, including one of my favorite bloggers: Ginny Sheller!
A lot of people give up electronics during Lent, and this could be a great way to fill the extra minutes with family time. Plus this one is packaged to look like a book so it’s the best.
Writing gloves are a wonderful bookish present at such a chilly time of year. This particular pair features quotes from Little Women, but you can also get one bedecked in verses from Romans 12.
Help make the transition just a tiny bit easier for the reader in your life who gave up coffee for Lent.
And I’d be remiss if I left out my present for the Mister: An Audio Drama
An audio drama is a great Valentine gift (Lent or not) because it’s something relaxing you can do together without the passivity of TV. This particular series has been on my radar for a while. I heard a sample of the St. Patrick drama in the past and it sounded great (John Rhys-Davies—Gimli from Lord of the Rings—plays Elder Patrick), and they recently released a St. Cecilia drama starring Hayley Atwell (you may know her as Agent Peggy Carter from Captain America). Click the link to hear samples and watch Making Of videos for both. The creators have clearly poured a great deal of energy and creativity into crafting a quality series. I can’t wait to share it with the Mister! P.S. Not sponsored; I just geek out about this kind of thing.
I would love to get anything that you mentioned! Especially writing gloves *heart eyes* I actually didn’t know writing gloves existed? I mean, why am I surprised considered there’s on everything, but yeah.
Great list!
I would love to get anything that you mentioned! Especially writing gloves *heart eyes* I actually didn’t know writing gloves existed? I mean, why am I surprised considered there’s on everything, but yeah.
Great list!