"When will I be old enough to...

fast?" This is the question Amelia asked me yesterday during lunch. Ian and I fast every month on the 15th for our dear friends and Amelia has been very intrigued by it recently. Last month she asked if she could fast also and we said no. She's too young to not eat all day long. However, this time I expanded the conversation with her....

A: When will I be old enough to fast?
Me: When you are grown-up, but you can fast now, just not from food all day long.
A: What can I fast from?
M: Anything that is important to you and would remind you to pray for J&R when you think about it (and I raised my eyebrows at her- I had something in mind)
A: Oh, you mean like sugar because I really like sugar (ha)
M: Yes, like sugar (she read my mind)
A: OK, I'm going to give up dessert for three days
M: Cool, starting today?
A: No, tomorrow
M: Well you have a birthday party on Sat and I'm sure they'll have cake...
A: Oh, well maybe two days and I'll start today (It's good to know she's still human!)

I really expected her to ask for dessert after dinner (I'm not very faithful am I....) Well, she ate ALL of her dinner- I mean every last bite of her burrito. Ian asked if she was eating so well because she wanted dessert and she said, "no, I'm fasting from dessert for J&R, I'm just really hungry." And that was that- no begging for dessert, no going back on her resolve. She powered through and taught me a lesson or two about values being caught more than they are taught!