242. Temptation Today
In this season of Lent we read scriptures of the temptations of Jesus. And I was surprised a number of years ago when a seven-year-old grandson claimed to know about temptation. The story is in poem form.
—
A Pack of Pokemon Cards
—
the characters of Pokemon
scrambled between the cards
all of same value to me
but each time this seven-year-old
bought them
he spun through them
to see if he got
any good ones
—
finally his mother
set limits:
“three packs a month
that’s it”
—
we were on the brink
of a new month
and he asked if he could
buy a pack
—
I said with grandmother
wisdom “Let’s call
your Mother”
—
he talked fast words
on the phone
and told her how much
how very much
he wanted them
—
she said
“It isn’t a new month yet.”
he said, “I know—
but Mom!”
—
“get them”
she told him
“but don’t open them
until tomorrow when
new month begins”
—
excited he ran
to the store
rifled through the packs
and picked one
we paid
—
and as we walked
through busy mall
he held the precious pack
in front of him
out at eye level
and said,
“Grandma, this is
a religious thing!”
—
My look was
skeptical as I asked
“How is it religious?”
—
he kept the cards
in front of his eyes
“this is about
temptation”
—
“Tell me more”
I said.
—
his look was serious
“You see,” he said
“I want to open them
so much
and it’s tempting
it’s tempting a lot
and I have to be strong
and wait.”
—
and he did
—
© Copyright 2005 Ann Freeman Price
