A weekend or two ago, I was at a cookie exchange with a few friends. While visiting with my good friend, the hostess, we began sharing war stories. The discussion was totally inappropriate talk for a cookie exchange – and disgusting. We were talking about rats.
We found out, during our completely revolting chat that each of us had, in the past, had a mouse that we caught in our houses at one time or another. My particular account is kind of interesting…
Before Isaac was born, Michael and I came to the realization that we had an intruder and set out to catch it. We tried everything, to no avail. The more days that rolled by, and the longer it took – the more brazen he became! We tried poison, snapping traps and sticky traps. Nothing. He was impossible to catch!
Well, as it so happens, it became apparent that our little intruder enjoyed orange cream hershey’s kisses. Michael prepared to set an irresistible trap. We got the largest sticky trap we could find and we set it out with the bait in the center of course, an orange cream Hershey’s kiss.
It worked. We came out the next morning… and this is what we found. The tiniest little white mouse was anxiously alternating between trying to eat that candy and trying to squirm his way off of the trap.
Its a bit ironic that I revived this memory at a cookie exchange.
You see, I live this way – like the little white mouse, quite regularly. I know what one of my besetting sins is: it has to do with self control and overindulging in sweets. I also know that in the midst of doing my best to live a life of self control, I test myself sometimes. My personal picture is so similar to that little mouse… trying to get away, but staying to nibble on the bait, on the road to death by chocolate…
Its an ongoing story – even Paul told us of his struggle in Scripture: ( I guess this is my paraphrase)
The things I know I should do, I can’t seem to manage. The things I should stop doing, I keep on doing anyway…
At this time of year, just before I say goodbye to 2010 and start fresh into 2011 – I’ve been thinking about this little object lesson. I should probably be making resolutions… I know that there will always be desserts – or other areas where I’ll need to use self control – I can’t just run away from everything. right? Is there any help or hope for me in this situation?
I know these two things. There is the Holy spirit – He is available for discernment – to help me with my choices, to whisper in my ear and help me avoid those deadly traps. But, the best news of all, my life does not have to end with sin and death… there is mercy and a promise of forgiveness when I make the wrong choice.
Ephesians 1:3-8
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.
I can live life, bypassing the traps, avoiding death – because of His grace. Thank Heavens – there will not be death by chocolate for me! AMEN!
daily portion 