I cannot think about Beth without smiling. She is there, in many
many memories, smiling, acting goofy, and probably doing something us
older girls bribed her to do. (We promise, we will never tell....love you Bethy!) We also knew, all of us,
that she would marry her Chris, and she did. Now, they have three beautiful (and I mean beautiful) babies.
It is amazing to see her (well, I Facebook-cyber-stalk Beth on a regular basis) and hear her stories and antics about what her children are up to, and how they are becoming these amazing people already at such a young age. I am, however, not surprised that hilarity often ensues.
Most recently I was struck by a comment that she made regarding Keely. Keely, age 3, is Beth all over again, with her big eyes, and light hair. As Beth and Keely were out and about one day running errands, Beth took a jaunt through McD's, and while normally eating in the van is not allowed, that day, Mommy made an exception.
Although I wasn't actually present for the event, I can well see what took place over the next few moments as Keely rummaged through the bag, looking through her lunch items, when she saw something in the bottom that did not belong.
Being the dramatic soul that I am, I imagine that in this next moment, Keely through her arm over her face, and with her other hand practically toss the bag to her mom. (Basically, because that's what I'd do.) What she did do though, was yell, "Take this! Take this! I am not allowed to have it!!"
What was in the bag? Barbecue sauce.
I cannot say how I would have responded right now, let alone when I was a mere three years old. You may be thinking, "Wouldn't you just eat it? It's barbecue sauce... you're an adult. You can eat in the car if you want to, or don't. Really, no one cares about the BBQ sauce..." The truth is, I would eat barbecue sauce, (except that right now, I am avoiding fast food altogether [sigh]). As I read this though, my thought trailed away from beloved BBQ to regular ol' temptation.
For Keely, it wasn't enough for Keely to leave the BBQ sauce in the bottom of her bag, close it up and set it on the seat beside her. The temptation was just too close. Close enough, in fact, that she could have done the sneaky thing, opened the packet and tasted the yummy goodness. (Those packets are hard to open, but in a child's determined hands, I wouldn't put it past her.) Keely, in the wisdom of a three year old, saw past the moment of instant gratification, and saw where the consequences of her actions would lead. BBQ sauce can be hard to hide if it's all over your face, you are out of napkins, and have no mirror. (I'm just sayin'.)
Instead she knew that she had to rid herself of the temptation altogether.
"Take this! Take this, Mom! I am not allowed to have it!!"
Being the super mom that she is, Beth took the BBQ sauce, relinquishing her daughter from the sauce and any possible outcomes that might have happened had she kept it.
I have my own temptations. BBQ sauce is not necessarily one of them, but they are there, and my decision becomes what do I do with them.
We can read the Bible and know that even Jesus faced temptation, so unfortunately, I'm not sure of a way where we can altogether stop them from coming. However, there are methods for getting rid of them. In Keely's case, toss the bag with the goods into the front seat with Mom. She'll keep her covered.
In my case, a little prayer goes a long way. I guess, that would involve me "tossing the bag with the goods into the hands of my Father." He has proven good at catching.
Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Sending lots of love and chocolate (and a little barbecue sauce) your way,
Oh, and Keely, High Five to you! Way to go!!
It is amazing to see her (well, I Facebook-cyber-stalk Beth on a regular basis) and hear her stories and antics about what her children are up to, and how they are becoming these amazing people already at such a young age. I am, however, not surprised that hilarity often ensues.
Most recently I was struck by a comment that she made regarding Keely. Keely, age 3, is Beth all over again, with her big eyes, and light hair. As Beth and Keely were out and about one day running errands, Beth took a jaunt through McD's, and while normally eating in the van is not allowed, that day, Mommy made an exception.
Although I wasn't actually present for the event, I can well see what took place over the next few moments as Keely rummaged through the bag, looking through her lunch items, when she saw something in the bottom that did not belong.
Being the dramatic soul that I am, I imagine that in this next moment, Keely through her arm over her face, and with her other hand practically toss the bag to her mom. (Basically, because that's what I'd do.) What she did do though, was yell, "Take this! Take this! I am not allowed to have it!!"
What was in the bag? Barbecue sauce.
I cannot say how I would have responded right now, let alone when I was a mere three years old. You may be thinking, "Wouldn't you just eat it? It's barbecue sauce... you're an adult. You can eat in the car if you want to, or don't. Really, no one cares about the BBQ sauce..." The truth is, I would eat barbecue sauce, (except that right now, I am avoiding fast food altogether [sigh]). As I read this though, my thought trailed away from beloved BBQ to regular ol' temptation.
For Keely, it wasn't enough for Keely to leave the BBQ sauce in the bottom of her bag, close it up and set it on the seat beside her. The temptation was just too close. Close enough, in fact, that she could have done the sneaky thing, opened the packet and tasted the yummy goodness. (Those packets are hard to open, but in a child's determined hands, I wouldn't put it past her.) Keely, in the wisdom of a three year old, saw past the moment of instant gratification, and saw where the consequences of her actions would lead. BBQ sauce can be hard to hide if it's all over your face, you are out of napkins, and have no mirror. (I'm just sayin'.)
Instead she knew that she had to rid herself of the temptation altogether.
"Take this! Take this, Mom! I am not allowed to have it!!"
Being the super mom that she is, Beth took the BBQ sauce, relinquishing her daughter from the sauce and any possible outcomes that might have happened had she kept it.
I have my own temptations. BBQ sauce is not necessarily one of them, but they are there, and my decision becomes what do I do with them.
We can read the Bible and know that even Jesus faced temptation, so unfortunately, I'm not sure of a way where we can altogether stop them from coming. However, there are methods for getting rid of them. In Keely's case, toss the bag with the goods into the front seat with Mom. She'll keep her covered.
In my case, a little prayer goes a long way. I guess, that would involve me "tossing the bag with the goods into the hands of my Father." He has proven good at catching.
Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Sending lots of love and chocolate (and a little barbecue sauce) your way,
Oh, and Keely, High Five to you! Way to go!!
1 comment:
You've reminded me that temptation comes in many forms, some messier than others. How many of us can do as this little girl did and toss the temptation as far away from us a possible? It's not easy, that's for sure! I love reading your posts, by the way...just thought I'd let you know. :)
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