1 Corinthians 8:9  Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. (NIV)

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“I’m going to eat what I want to eat.” 

I’ve heard a number of adults say that through the years. I’ve said that a few times myself. It’s amazing how many people feel like they can boss me around about what I eat. The nutritionist I was working with recently actually gave me permission to eat some things that have been on the no-fly list for quite a while. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate her. 

On this occasion, however, the person saying, “I’m going to eat what I want to eat,” was four years old. I’m guessing that statement did not originate with her. Either she overheard me say that one time or heard it from another child at school. It’s amazing how other children who are not as angelic as ours infect our little ones with their misbehavior. (Ahem.)

Statements like this one sound a bit like what Paul was dealing with in Corinth all those years ago. Some things never change, do they? Rules about what is right and wrong get filtered through our personal desires at certain times. Most of the time, we do the hard right thing. Sometimes, however, we just want what we want when we want it. 

I had to endure some medical tests involving needles and blood this past week. I planned to have them done first thing in the morning so I could have a tasty breakfast afterward and move on with my day. However, the clinic didn’t have any appointments that morning. So I went just before lunch instead. 

After enduring those withdrawals, I drove the short distance to Chick-fil-A and had one of my annual treats. I got the spicy chicken sandwich with fries instead of fruit. I normally get the grilled sandwich and fruit because I am a good boy. Most of the time. This time, I rationalized that I needed some carbohydrates and spice to make me feel better after the puncture wound. 

It’s amazing what spicy fried chicken and diet lemonade will do for a person’s attitude.  

I could hear my bride in my conscience questioning my choice. I could hear myself replying, “I’m going to eat what I want to eat.” 

I didn’t start off writing this meditation to confess my sins, but there you have it. 

One thing we have to pay attention to is that strong-willed children often grow up to be strong-willed adults. Our strong wills are still subject to God’s truth. A spicy fried chicken sandwich probably won’t kill me all by itself. But if I make it my daily diet, I probably won’t be as healthy as I could be otherwise. I was reminded of this truth when I stepped on the bathroom scale the following morning. That would have been a good day for the batteries to have run down. 

Our attitudes and behaviors can prove contagious. Sometimes the contagion is intentional; other times, it is purely incidental. Either way, our illness frequently spreads. 

Good habits and kind expressions are likewise infectious for all the right reasons. Oh, that we most often erred on that side of the equation. 

Today is a good day to ponder how my attitudes affect four-year-olds and forty-year-olds. 

Today is a good day to put some safeguards in place to keep me from saying things that wrongly influence others. 

Today is a good day to work on eliminating those things in my behavior that, whether intentional or not, harm family, friends, and others. 

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I will consider the weight of my words and behavior and work to remove any unnecessary stumbling blocks.

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Our Father, please root out from my life the words and behaviors that wound others. Empower me to develop life-giving habits that build up others. Put a guard over my mouth to keep me from saying hurtful things. Deliver me from every temptation to speak what I know would be harmful. Deliver me from every temptation to selfishly indulge in those things that take me farther away from health and wholesome living. Amen.