It's currently the middle of the Lenten season, the 40 days before Easter as the world waits for the saving grace of Jesus. I've celebrated Lent ever since I can remember. It is traditional to give something, presumably a vice, for the duration of Lent. For the last 7 years, I've been giving up sweets (and this year I added bread to the mix too). This choice often comes under a lot of fire. When I tell people that, I often hear the response "How does not eating dessert really bring you closer to God?" And I can see where people are coming from. So I've chosen to write a little explanation:

For those who know me well, they know I have quite a big sweet tooth. I rarely go a day without some form of dessert, (especially anything chocolate), so giving up sweets is a daily thing for me. But every time I want to eat a sweet, I'm reminded of my Lenten promise. And that Lenten promise reminds me of the purpose of Lent. I'm reminded of the immense LOVE God has for us. I'm reminded of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to save me from the grasps of death. I'm reminded that I'm made in the image of God, lovingly created, perfectly imperfect.

So I like to think of it as giving up sweets, and gaining a daily reminder of saving grace.