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SHERYL YOUNG
Special to Florida Baptist Witness
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In the early years of our marriage, my husband never ventured into the kitchen. Like a fear of heights or water, his phobias were those dreaded weapons of mass destruction—pots, pans and stove.
However, one thing he didn’t fear was sweets. He gobbled desserts almost every night. Which I would bring to him, of course, because he didn’t go near “that room.”
I’m a chocolate addict too, but can’t often join him because sweets throw my blood sugar into a frenzy. He can have chocolate whenever he wants. Oh, how I hate that man.
One day, I bought him a package of cupcakes. For three days, he didn’t ask for dessert. The cupcakes began calling my name. I salivated upon passing them. On the fourth day, I lost my willpower and ate one. Then I hid the others to be sure he didn’t see them! But that very night, he asked for the cupcakes.
“What cupcakes?” I asked nonchalantly.
“The ones on the counter.”
“We don’t have any cupcakes,” I retorted, feeling the red heat of guilt rising from my neck. Why was I turning red? Why were my lips trembling? It was just a little white lie.
Then I figured out what was happening. You see, I’m a recovering “tale-spinner”—a most formidable liar, a wily web-weaver. My specialty was little white lies—never anything harmful. That was my justification. I didn’t mean to; it just kept happening. But a few months earlier, both of us had come into a relationship with the Lord. I couldn’t tell this lie—my love for Christ was changing me.
Before hubby could say anything, I yelled “Oh, alright! I ate one!”
The next day, I had a massive sugar headache.
When we accept God into our lives and allow Him to mold us, He produces peculiar, wonderful changes. Because He knows in the long run the only one we’re fooling is ourselves, and He knows what’s good for us.
Sheryl Young is a writer, minister’s wife and member of Tampa Shores Baptist Church in Tampa. Her column will appear occasionally in Florida Baptist Witness.
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