Temptations

Yesterday I had the joy of watching my youngest granddaughter, Piper, Build-a-Bear. It was a birthday present from her parents. She was so excited. We walked around the mall for awhile, waiting for the 10 a.m. opening. We arrived back at the store and she sat down in front of the glass door for the final minute before the doors opened. She surveyed all the colorful options inside almost bursting with anticipation.

The small store was wall-to-wall sensory overload. There were bright colors everywhere and so many choices for bears or other soft, cuddly animals and hundreds of outfits to meet every child's dream. She chose a pretty pink bear and watched as the form came to life as it filled with stuffing. She put in the heart and the bear was stitched shut. Then she took her bear to the washing station where she brushed and brushed the bear to make it clean.

Then it was time to choose some outfits for her bear. She had a budget but her mother wisely let her wander around the store gathering whatever caught her eye. They spread out the array of sparkly, silky, bejeweled clothes and accessories on the dressing table and Piper had to narrow it down to her favorites. The temptation was great. When she put one thing back, she saw other new options to pick. Everywhere she looked there were pretty things; such a dreamland for a four-year-old!

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).

My daughter-in-law Laura is a talented seamstress and knitter. She helped Piper put back the yoga mat for her bear and decide against the slumber bag, offering to make some things for her at home. She provided a way for Piper to narrow her purchases and still leave with a boxed bear, new shoes and an extra outfit for her pink bear, and most important...with a smile on her face.

Very few of us can afford to go out and buy everything we'd like to have. If we did we would find ourselves with a big credit card debt and a bunch of stuff we really don't need.

Thank you, God, for teaching us to be strong in temptation and for giving us a way out. Amen.