Our kids have been really struggling with sweets lately . . . I think it has something to do with the Christmas/ Valentine's/ Easter holidays, and a smattering of family birthdays in there too. I'm "this close" (think 1/8 inch space between my thumb and pointer) to throwing it all out the window!
Our daughter has had a real struggle in this area this past month. We found a stash of wrappers in the space between her bed and wall a few weeks back and have also discovered that she has been getting up in the middle of the night and at nap time, while mommy is sleeping on the couch taking a much-needed doze, to sneak sweets. We've really had to set some strong boundaries around her for her own health. Fortunately, upon talking to our pediatrician, she does not think S has any signs of diabetes, hypoglycemia, etc.
Because of all this, we have had the opportunity to talk a lot with the kids about impulse choices lately, and how not everything we want is good for us. As Paul says to the church in Corinth, "'Everything is permissible for me' - but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' - but I will not be mastered by anything." (1 Cor. 6:12) I also like the Message paraphrase of the verse: "Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whateverI thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims."
We've also talked about temptation, how Jesus experienced and had victory over every temptation known to man, and how God promises to always provide an escape. "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted [by the deceiver], He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:12-13)
The boys have their own struggles as well. Their major candy trap is a jar of brightly-colored jelly beans on display in our church's elementary wing. In fact, our 3-year-old will often break free of me to go down and grab a handful before this pregnant mama can catch him. Our eldest will ask us for some every time he passes it.
Well, the jar I loathe became an unexpected blessing this past Wednesday. E took a yellow bean from the jar and brought it over to me as I was chasing down my busy lil C who had already swallowed a mouthful. He asked me about 3 times if he could eat it, and I wasn't really focusing on him because of trying to find lil C. Finally, I just said "No, I want you to go put it back."
Now, at this point you are probably thinking I am the strictest Mommy ever, but God was up to something BIG in his character that morning. When I saw that he obeyed right away, I went over to him, hugged him, and whispered in his ear "E, I am so proud of you. Because you honored Mommy's words, you get to pick 2 Easter eggs instead of 1 from your basket after lunch today."
This is the part of the story where my joy in my children overflows, and where I know that, despite all my mistakes in parenting, that God is filling in the gaps and teaching them Himself. "All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace." (Isaiah 54:13)
On the way home, E shared excitedly, "Mommy, God made a way out, and I walked toward the light!"
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