What are you giving up?

Today is Ash Wednesday and so marks the beginning of the holy season of Lent. Beginning with the start of the day at 12 AM Eastern Standard Time, I gave up chocolate until Easter morning. In years past I have given up soft drinks, french fries, and even last year, I gave up Chick-Fil-A. I jokingly said that they would go out of business because I went there for lunch at least 3 times a week. When it happens to come up in conversation that I am giving up something for Lent, I always get the same reaction, "I didn't know you were Catholic," or "I don't do that. I'm not Catholic." Well, I'm not Catholic, and I still do it. It's about the sacrifice. I am a Christian and therefore believe that Jesus died to save me from my sins. I spend this time going without something that I love in remembrance of the sacrifice he made for me. It wouldn't mean anything if I gave up asparagus or egg salad, I hate those things.
There is a dialogue in the movie Doubt that I love. It's between Father Flynn played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sister Aloysius played by Meryl Streep and Sister James played by Amy Adams. It's very short, if you blink you'll miss it. All three are having a meeting and tea is offered. The dialogue goes like this:

SISTER JAMES

Would you like a cup of tea, Sister

Aloysius?

SISTER ALOYSIUS

No, I’ve already had my cup.

FLYNN

Is there sugar?

SISTER ALOYSIUS

Sugar? Yes! (Goes to her desk,

rummages in a drawer.) Yes. It’s

somewhere here. I put it in the

drawer for Lent last year and never

remembered to take it out.

FLYNN

(Winking at Sister James)

Ah, it mustn’t have been much to

give up then.

I couldn't say it better. So, I will do without my chocolate, and everytime I pass the candy jar in my office full of Hershey's Kisses or someone brings in Brownies or my kids forget and offer me an Oreo, I will think of a much greater sacrifice made for me. What are you giving up?