Resisting Temptation: What to tell my children.

So, ever since I was fifteen I have made decisions based on the children I didn't have. This sounds crazy to a lot of people that know this about me but today I feel a little vindicated. Why? Because I watched another Andy Stanley sermon. For those of you not caught up, Andy Stanley's sermons are the inspiration behind my year long challenge. 

When I decided to become celibate I did so as a promise to God. When I took this challenge I decided to even abstain from kissing and other signs of overt sexual affection. Not because I believe kissing to be wrong - but because kissing leads to more; its a temptation. Now although I have kept my promise to abstain from sex - I did transgress further than I had intended. See the other two blogs on that subject. 

The point is, when I spoke with Anthony about why I was so upset [which he understood], one of the things I mentioned was what I was going to tell my children someday. Thank God he is working on becoming a good Christian as well and completely heard me out and even gave me feed back. I told him that I want to be a proud mama, I don't want to be the parent that tells her kids to do and not to do A, B, and C even though I did A, B, and C. That being said I also think that it's important to let your kids know that you will fail sometimes, you will be tempted, you might give in. 

Because God made us human, not Angels, as outlined in Sex God [a book]. 

I used to believe that because I only slept with people I was in a committed relationship with that I wasn't giving into temptations, that I was still being a good woman. However obviously that is a temptation  and this isn't what I want to teach my children; that just because it's not a one night stand, God approves. Just because we are tempted doesn't mean that we give in to those temptations; and that is the crux of what I want them to know. That when we make a decision not to partake in something, we stick by those decisions and what's at stake is much more than that moment, than that small temptation. 

And while I felt dramatic at the moment telling Anthony these things, I felt relieved when, while watching Andy Stanley, he made the statement that when we give into temptations our futures, others futures, and our faith are all at stake. 

Although this sounds dramatic, it rings true. Because in that moment I went beyond my boundaries, I immediately imagined myself telling my children what I believe to be right, and then what my response would be when they asked "Mommy, did you wait?" I already cannot say no but I hope I can tell them a story of growth, of prosperity in my faith. A story of redemption.

When we give in to temptation, even small ones, we are saying that we do not trust God to take care of us. Where would we be had Jesus not resisted the temptation of the Devil while he was in the desert? 

Nobody is perfect, and I don't want to raise self righteous children who judge another's testimony, but I want them to have a good example. I want to be that good example. 


Andy Stanley: Temptation Part 1 A
Andy Stanley: Temptation Part 1B