Lent through the Little Things: Encountering Jesus in Life's Ordinary Moments

by Linda Hanstra

For centuries, Lent–the 40 days before Easter–has been a time when Christians focus their minds on the great gift of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

For several years, Linda Hanstra intended to do just that. She gave up pleasures and vices. She took on holy and healthy habits instead. But those changes didn’t always change her focus. Despite her best intentions, Jesus’ presence during Lent was, at times, elusive.

“Life got in the way, and I would realize days or weeks had gone by and all I had thought about was how many days until I could have chocolate again, and who was coming for Easter dinner…And I’d promise to do better next year.”

With that struggle in mind, she penned these meditations. Finding simple reminders throughout her day, she’s become more mindful of Jesus’ presence on her daily journey.

She invites you to join her through forty personal reflections, as she connects the dots between the “Little Things” in our everyday, ordinary lives and the holy presence of our Lord and Savior.

Are you yearning for a Lenten experience more meaningful than giving up chocolate? Do you long for a daily connection with your Savior? If so, this book is for you.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2023

About the author

A true Midwest farmer's daughter, Linda Hanstra grew up in northwest Indiana and spent her youth gathering eggs, hoeing corn out of beans, and trimming Christmas trees. After high school, she left the farm to study at Calvin College (now University) and went on to graduate school at Purdue University.

After working as a speech-language pathologist in hospitals, clinics and schools for 35 years, Linda now enjoys being semi-retired. She is living happily ever after-the-kids with her husband, Tom, in southwest Michigan. They spend summers at the lake in northern Minnesota—their home away from home. On quiet evenings and summer afternoons, you might find her reading, knitting, cycling, or kayaking.

As a mother of four, and now "Lala" too, her family and faith bring her the deepest joy. The author of "Lent through the Little Things," Linda has been writing, blogging, and encouraging readers for over ten years. You can find her work on her website, on Substack, and at other online publications

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of Linda's beta readers and am very proud of what she has published. She uses everyday, practical examples to focus our thoughts on what is meaningful as we go through those seven weeks of Lent.

[Anastasia Tuckness]

Basic format ended up basically telling you to do something every day, which is not what I need right now, so I stopped reading it for this year. Maybe it will hit me differently next year.

[Cathy Lawdanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable journey through Lent with Linda!

[Deb Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Linda and I were part of a small writing group several years ago and I remember when she first started writing this book. I read through her book as my Lenten devotional this year. Her devotions are practical and relevant, and she does a beautiful job of always pointing her reader back to Christ and his work on the cross. This book would make a beautiful gift as well!

Words I’m remembering: “If one person walks through the woods or a meadow, no path is formed. But if many others follow, the grass is beaten down, the brush pushed aside, and a path forms. Or, if one person takes the same steps day after day, soon, a trail is marked.”