Temptations- 😈

A desire, an urge , a craving are primary emotions which we find it difficult to resist at certain times.

TEMPTATIONS?????

This word “Temptations” is closely linked to the control of our senses. And wherever the control of the senses comes the will power follows.

But, what does this controlling of our senses really mean??.

To me, Controlling means having strength to hold ourselves back and not getting carried away by cravings and impulses. with a will power.

Temptation is again a very strong word deeply tied to will power. If will power weakens then temptations takes over.

Why?

Because will power and temptations are tied to each other. If we have will power then we can resist any kind of temptations.

Temptation- this is a strong word which includes all kinds of desires.

It involves physical cravings- an urge, yearning, physical cravings and also the irresistible allure of food and appetite. Among the many temptations we face in life, food and lust are perhaps the hardest to resist.

Both these temptations are very difficult to resist. We set goals to achieve in our life. Irrespective of whether we reach our goals or not, this desire or urge to engage in short-term impulses for immediate enjoyment, doesn’t disappear. It stays with us since the time we begin to understand the meaning of the word “TEMPTATION”. We fall into to these temptations even when we know the action is wrong, unwise or goes against our long- term goal.

I, for one have a huge weaknesses for chocolates and sweets. I have tried my best to resist but have failed several times. Also I believe most of us are no different unable to resist the temptation of our favourite snacks, desserts, or little goodies.

“Personally, I feel temptations related to food are toughest to resist, and more often than not, they revolve around food or lust .”

Temptations due to food is the toughest to resist. One major reason is that food is easily available .

For the longest time, I strongly believed that our taste buds are the first to be awakened at the sight of delicious food, snacks, or a tempting meal. But recently, that belief was overruled…..

How ???

A simple incident changed my views about the same.

I visit my mother regularly, though she stays in a different city. She has a maid who is more like a helping hand, doing almost all the household chores at home. Like any other maid, she too takes leave once in a while. But whenever she does, my mother’s temper shoots up like a volcano erupting lava 😂😂😂. My mother behaves as if she has given her a permanent job where she is expected to report every single day without fail. I have tried explaining to her many times that the maid too has a life, responsibilities and problems of her own, but I have never really succeeded in changing her mindset.

One day, the maid called to say that she would not be coming to work. The reason this time was heartbreaking, her younger sister, who had been suffering from cancer, had passed away. Being the elder sister and unmarried, she had to shoulder the responsibilities of the family. After a few days, she resumed her work in our house.

She usually has breakfast and tea at our place. But because of the rituals and customs followed after a death in the family, she was not allowed to eat anywhere except at her own house for a certain period. During that very time, we happened to have a family function at home. As always, a function meant a house full of people, endless cleaning, washing, mopping, and plenty of extra work for her. Of course, she was to be paid extra for all that.

Now coming to the topic—temptations.

A family function also means delicious food, mouthwatering snacks, and irresistible sweets spread all around the house. There were relatives, guests, laughter, noise, and food in abundance. The aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled every corner of the house, and trays of sweets and savouries were placed right in front of us.

For someone who was already hungry , tired and constantly surrounded by such tempting food, resisting it was no easy task. She was running around the whole day doing all the work, taking care of all the chores by running here and there the whole day.

I thought, watching her move around the house, surrounded by food she could neither eat nor even taste, how difficult it must have been for her.

We all had our lunch, and after that it was only natural for us to offer her some sweets and delicacies to taste. We even thought of packing some for her to take home, so that she could enjoy them later.

When we asked her to sit and eat, she immediately said, “No, no, I cannot eat outside.”

Thinking she might at least have a few sweets and savouries, we made a separate plate just for her and offered it with affection. But once again, she politely refused.

She said, “No, I cannot even taste them. I have to follow these rules until all the rituals are over.”

So we thought the best thing would be to pack everything and give it to her to take home. But to our surprise, she refused that too.

Very calmly and respectfully she said, “No, I cannot take it with me either. I am following these rituals and rules for my beloved sister. I have to respect her death by observing them sincerely for her sake. These sweets and savouries can be relished at any time, but the mourning I do with all my love and affection for my sister cannot be replaced.”

Her words stayed with me.

At that very moment, the meaning of temptation changed for me.

There she was surrounded by delicious food, sweets and snacks after hours of work, hunger and exhaustion. Everything was right in front of her, easily within reach. Yet she refused, not because she didn’t want them, but because her love, respect and sense of duty towards her sister were far stronger than her momentary cravings.

That day I realised that temptation is not always defeated by strict self-control alone. Sometimes it is defeated by something deeper love, values, emotional strength and the ability to honour a bond even after death.

I have often failed to resist chocolates, sweets and all my favourite treats. But that day, this woman taught me a lesson in willpower without even trying to teach one. She showed me that when emotions are genuine and values run deep, even the strongest temptations can be put aside with grace.

For me, that day was not just about a maid refusing sweets at a family function. It was a quiet lesson in love, discipline, grief and strength. She may have refused the food, but she gave me something far more lasting, a new understanding of what it truly means to resist temptation.

What are your views on temptations????Would like to hear in the comments.

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