Tackling temptations

Just a few days shy of Christmas, we went out to a shopping street. It was cheerful, inviting, noisy and full of temptations! vendors dotted the streets inviting passers by to look at the display of their colorful things for sale. One of the greatest tempters were the cotton-candy vendors. They were tempters for two reasons, their cotton candy looks great and they are usually poor and inspire a great deal of sympathy. They called out to A various times, asking him to buy a package. I asked him to refuse politely, to say "No thank you." He was doing that quite well, but with a few problems. The vendors didn't hear him and he was tempted.
Back at home was a great opportunity to teach him (again) about what is good food and not-so-good food and about saying No to temptations. But then that doesn't always work...
It's easy when the temptations are a bit distant- toys on display or cotton candy on the vendors' stick. But what when somebody (a friend, perhaps) puts forbidden toys in their hands and asks them to take it home (another 'not-allowed' act)? I realized that the friends don't usually look to the parent for approval or permission, and that it was up to the child to stand up for the truth, for what he has been taught... pretty much like real life!! What a big lesson for a little child, to hold an object of desire and refuse it, in his (or her) little heart and in words. But what a fundamental lesson, that will free the child from foolishness and a bad habit!

A man of understanding will attain unto wise counsel.

I hope with all my heart, the journey each child takes, will be marked with these wise guideposts.