Saying "NO" #1: The First Time

Much of the hurt in our lives and in the lives of those we know and love, involves saying "yes" to things that we know are wrong and will hurt us: illegal drugs, too much alcohol, pornography, lust, adultery, fornication, any kind of cheating, addictions which, in themselves (such as computer games) are not harmful.  Many times, we think just a 'little bit' of this or that will be OK, that we'll be able to quit at any time.  But life doesn't work like that.

Adolescents - no matter how many calendar years they may have accumulated - likely may want to try things their peers are doing, knowing full well it might hurt them.  The mature person, even if he or she is a teenager, will know about certain evils and vow to ALWAYS say 'NO!', the first time and all other times, no matter how many times they are tempted.

We need to take this to heart, "Not all who start with small sins end up in hell, but all who end up in hell start with small sins" (The Snakebite Letters, Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press, 1993, p. 42).  I highly recommend this book.  It is a modern remake of C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters.  In The Snakebite Letters, a Senior Devil is instructing a young devil on how to corrupt Americans.  It is most revealing, right on the mark.

Temptation will visit us many times in our lives; we cannot escape it. They say that the better a person tries to be, the more the devil will tempt that person.  But, God will always give us the means and the strength to overcome each and every temptation.  Once, St. Catharine of Siena was asked when a person would stop being tempted by sexual sins.  She quipped, "Twelve hours after they're dead!"

If we're responsible for young people, how can we help them: have such wonderful relationships that we can, without embarrassment, talk with them about everything, and that they feel so comfortable with us that they can come to us for any concern.  We must purposely talk with them about the evils they may encounter. We can never assume that they'll hear about the important things in school or church.  We can't just hand them a book, either.

Then what is our responsibility to ourselves: Pray much, vow to never once give in to what we know is wrong, ask God, "Just let me recognize temptations when they come.  I know you'll help me not give in."