The Cookie on the Cooling Rack

The first tray of biscuits came out of the oven just before lunch. Mother placed it on the cooling rack and told Molly to wait until after the meal. One biscuit had a little more icing than the rest.

Molly stood beside the counter. She imagined taking only a small corner. Then she thought about turning the biscuit so the missing part would face the wall. The longer she watched it, the better her plan seemed.

She moved away from the counter and found Mother in the garden. Molly admitted that she was having trouble waiting. Mother gave her the salad bowl and asked her to carry it to the table. Then Molly filled the water glasses and called her brother inside.

By the time lunch was ready, she was thinking about where everyone would sit. After the meal, Mother let each child choose a biscuit. Molly's favorite was still on the rack, but she no longer felt that she had to hide anything to have it.

She ate it slowly on the back step. The small choice to walk away had helped her obey when standing by the counter made obedience harder.

The Bible says God is faithful when His people face temptation. We can seek His help and take the right way He provides. Sometimes a practical step is to leave the place where we are planning to do wrong and begin the good work already waiting for us.