Dreams - A Deterrent for Bad Behavior (Blog Idea from Melanie)

I was young. Probably not more than twelve or thirteen years old. I'd been taught all my life that I shouldn't smoke, drink or do drugs. I'd even practiced role-playing how I'd say no if I was ever offered any of those things.

And then I smoked. I don't remember who offered me the cigarette, but I took it and I puffed. I coughed, but I took another puff and then another. I held it between my index and middle finger, the way glamorous people did and I finished the cigarette. I dropped the butt on the ground and gave it a good twist with my foot, just like I'd seen other smokers do. 

And then I was horrified. I felt sick to my stomach and my heart ached. I imagined how disappointed my parents would be when they discovered what I'd done. I felt intense shame. I worried that now I was addicted to nicotine. How could I have done such a thing? I knew better.

I cried. And I think it was the real tears that probably woke me up. And then I cried tears of relief that it was only a dream and I hadn't really smoked that cigarette. I wouldn't have to repent and confess after all. I wasn't addicted.

I still remember how that dream felt and I never wanted to feel that way again. 

Is it bad to wish that my children could have a similar experience?

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Comments

Lisa said…
i've had some similar experiences. one was that i had done hard drugs. the other that i had done something immoral. i remember how disappointed i was in myself. and how sick i felt. maybe these are divinely sent? and maybe not.
Mindy said…
I've had two dreams where I was immensely enjoying a cigarette. I don't understand it, because the smell alone makes me sick. Dreams are strange, aren't they?
I never smoked as well but lived in a two smoker home and the nightmare was real and I am suffering the consequences for my parents habits
Kristi said…
I had that same dream! It was yucky and scary at the same time. I also had a reoccurring dream that one or both of my parents started smoking or doing drugs or something. It is bizarre that that worry haunted my dreams.
Scott / Lori said…
I think a dream like that on occasion is good for us. We feel the remorse and then we wake up. That is the best scenario.
John said…
wow.I sat hear thinking what???? I've never heard this and now here you are just confessing.
In 8th grade a girl asked me to go smoke with them. I said no but before the end of class she asked again and said they'd be behind the portables if I wanted to join them. Hmmm....would have been pretty easy to walk behind those portables and give it a try. Thank goodness there wasn't one little bit in me that was interested in that. Scary.
John said…
That last comment was Tawnie. Not John.
Anonymous said…
I have had some interesting dreams. some that taught me a good lesson. Here is a funny one. Way back in the "olden days" I had a dream in color where I was helping Roy Rogers and Dale Evans solve a mystery. the interesting this is that the next night my dream continued and we were able to catch the "bad guys." And, again it was in color. (If you don't know who Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are, you may google it and find out.) LMH