'Tis the season to be tempted

I’m beginning to believe that this season has been misnamed. Give everything that is bombarding our senses it should be called … ‘Tis the season to be tempted. If you thought stores opening at 3am on Black Friday were crazy, now there are a number of stores that are operating around the clock … and we are tempted! Then they add those ridiculous “savings” discounts of 50 to 75% off the already discounted price. No wonder that it is being reported that this is turning out to be the best Christmas season for the stores since the downturn in the market … and we are tempted!

Online merchants are sending a constant stream of bargains via e-mail to your in-box offering deep discounts with free shipping … and we are tempted!

Our homes, offices, church events, etc. have plates and plates of goodies placed just within arms reach. We know that none of that stuff is good for us, but we are tempted nevertheless. After all, what harm could just one cookie or one more little chocolate square or one more small glass of eggnog really do to us … and we are tempted.

Our television is offering up and endless number of bowl football games, college and professional basketball games, and a number of other sporting events … so it is tempting to simply find our favorite comfortable chair, kickback and relax a little. After all we have been a little stressed recently and we deserve to take it easy. And, besides the temperature outside is not too inviting to go for a walk or play a pick-up game of touch football or basketball … and we are tempted.

‘Tis the season to be tempted … there are special programs at church, but the good old television is offering up some of our favorite season specials like the Charlie Brown Christmas or the Miracle on 34th Street or the Wizard of Oz and we try never to miss seeing them when they are on. Watching them is just a part of our Christmas traditions … and we are tempted. Plus, there are a couple of new offerings at the local movie theatre that we are just dying to see … and we are tempted.

With the temperature being so low it is tempting to simply turn off the alarm, rollover, pull up the warm covers and stay in bed another hour or two. Thus, we put off doing that chore that has already been put off previously two or three times … it is just so tempting.

At least, my friends, this is MY list of bad temptations that I continue to struggle with every day during this season of temptations. I don’t have an answer of how to successfully deal with them, but I just thought if I spread the guilt around a little it would relieve my personal burden.

Do you have any suggestions? I’m a little tired of singing the old gospel hymn, “Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin …” besides it isn’t working. Have you discovered something that does work?

Quote for today: Historian Shelby Foote tells of a soldier who was wounded at the battle of Shiloh during the American Civil War and was ordered to go to the rear. The fighting was fierce and within minutes he returned to his commanding officer. "Captain, give me a gun!" he shouted. "This fight ain't got any rear!" ~Daily Walk