Temptations

We might be one of the weirdest families around.  At least my kids think so.  We’ve had a couple of conversations about this, not sure how they got started, but part of it was me telling them even if I didn’t have my religion I don’t think I’d smoke, and I doubt I’d be into drinking or drugs; that kind of stuff just never appealed to me.  I might love to drink coffee though (since I love coffee flavored treats and the coffee aisle of the grocery store is intoxicating to me).  In fact, I used to pretend to when I was in jr. high when I’d hold a steamy mug of Postum carefully between long gangly fingers with darkly painted fingernails like my mom.  No, those kinds of things don’t tempt me all that much.  So I wondered, if I didn’t have the guidelines I do, what would get to me.  I admitted if I didn’t have to be as disciplined as I am, I’d probably shop a lot more, buy more, spend more.  On credit.  And online.  But I’d want to buy things for the poor people too.  We decided what I’d really like is to be like Robin Hood.  How’s that for a lame confession?  There have been others.  I’m tempted all the time, who isn’t?  This is a pretty tame list I suspect.  It gives away my identity as a middle-aged conservative mother.  I wish I knew how to make a check box and reply feature so we could compare lists with each other.  I’d venture to say we’ve got some things in common.  I know as soon as it’s posted I’ll think of another.  There may be an addendum.  But for now, here’s the short list.

to read a fluff romance novel every now and then… I know, how embarrassing and what a waste

to go out to dinner every weekend instead of being disciplined

to skip exercising and count my weeding as my workout for the day

to share interesting tidbits and gossip with Todd

to take a really long shower even though we’re on cistern

to give up on people or friendships

to make hasty judgments about people

to buy cheap clothes or shoes because they’re cute and a steal but I don’t really love them and I know they won’t hold up

to stay up late watching Netflix or Downton Abby even though I know I’ll be irritable in the morning

to clean rather than engaging with my kids

to linger on an inappropriate song rather than switching the station immediately (they’re usually the best ones, I rationalize that I’m a grown up and it’s not a big deal; but I really do know better and want to set a good example)

to tell stories about my kids that are embarrassing but so funny (I have to admit, I’m pretty good because I hated it when my mom and her friend would sit at the pool and do this, but some have been just too good not to share.  I’m always sorry but am always laughing too.)

to start a book I think will be good for me but know in my heart it’s over my head

to hide my little bag of See’s candy in my closet

to let my kids watch too much tv and play on the computer longer than their allotted time because it’s so quiet

to make easy but unhealthy meals because I’d get fewer complaints

to do their scouts for them; we would’ve been an Eagle Scout family maybe like 5 years ago

to check things off a list rather than doing them with a genuine heart

to comment more than I already do in church

to let an upsetting comment linger instead of blowing it off

to pretend I don’t know our dogs are running around the neighborhood

to pretend to be asleep sometimes

to offer advice when no one’s asked

to pick up after my kids or do their chores or laundry or dishes for them (because I love to clean and organize and make the house look like a hotel and I get impatient waiting)

to wear shorter skirts than I really should

to finish people’s sentences because I get impatient waiting for them to figure out the words they’re looking for

to steal school supplies (admittedly, it’s been decades since I’ve done this, but the office aisles and supply closets still get to me…)

to skip family scriptures and prayers

to be condescending and short

to let Todd take care of the hard stuff

to agree to something in Todd’s behalf without asking him first (like signing him up to sub for a class at church or to help with a project at school or to look at someone’s dog… I still want to all the time, but I’m learning)

to buy earrings at Kohl’s because they’re so cheap and more note cards that scream Caren even though I already have enough of both

to read something a little lighter and count that as my scripture reading for the day

to take a little siesta during the Sunday afternoon session of Conference

to eat more than 4 cookies in a row

to make excuses for all sorts of things

to give away money without telling Todd

to read gossip magazines in the waiting room

to ask more searching questions than people are comfortable with

to always want to stop and get a malt at that ice cream place

to covet youth and looks and good jeans and cute shoes

to skip the temple and just stay home and clean

to not answer the phone even when it’s BYU calling for their annual donation

to let others deal with the weighty issues in the world

to stick with our easy friends and not invite the new or hard people over

to buy the expensive fruit at Costco

to tell the telemarketer he has the wrong number (if he knew us at all he’d know I’m not really lying)

to sneak into bed around 9 with the house still blazing, letting Todd take care of it all

to send money in to all those organizations that send me return address labels and others that I just hear about

to tell the kid at the door that we already bought their stuff from another kid

to read Dear Abby and skip the heavier stuff

to let other people sign up to bring dinner or clean the temple or babysit

to text during church

to say hell’s bells and maybe damn in a really weak (maddening) moment

to swoon over attractive young male singers (acapella, country, I’m not picky)

to wonder what people are thinking  (I know, it’s none of my business. And it doesn’t matter.  Just being honest.)

I know.  Lame.  I’ve given in to them all.  And I’ll probably succumb in the future to them, as well as others I haven’t even identified yet.  But I know I’ve made some strides because some temptations from the past no longer entice me.  I still have work to do.  Loads.  But I love this counsel because it encourages me to make incremental steps in overcoming past habits.

Each of us can do a little better than we have been doing.  We can be a little more kind.  We can be a little more merciful.  We can be a little more forgiving.  We can put behind us our weaknesses of the past, and go forth with new energy and increased resolution to improve the world about us.  May we go with determination to try a little harder to be a little better.*

* President Hinckley