Temptation Today

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