Three teen siblings wanted to see a particularly popular movie that was playing at a local theatre. It was rated PG-13. It had long been a family rule that they could not attend PG-13 or R rated movies.

The teens interviewed their friends, and members of their family's church to find out what was offensive in the movie. They made a list of pros and cons to show their dad, in an effort to convince him that they should be allowed to see it. They showed the list to their father at breakfast.

Their father looked at their long list checking it thoroughly.

The con's were: that it contained only three bad words, the only violence was a building exploding, ("… and you see that on TV all the time…" they said.) and you actually did not see the couple in the movie having sex… it was just "implied" sex, off camera.

The pros were that it was a popular movie… a blockbuster… everyone was seeing it. The teens contended that if they saw the movie then they wouldn't feel left out when their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good story and plot… it had some great adventure scenes, and was full of suspense… and there were some fantastic special effects. The movie's stars were some of the most talented actors in Hollywood, and it probably would be nominated for several awards. Many of the members of their Christian church had even seen the movie, and said it wasn't "very bad". Since there were "more pros than cons" the teens said, they were asking their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have permission to go see it.

He said he could see that his children had spent a lot of time and energy researching before submitting their request, so he asked if he could have the rest of the day to think about it before rendering his decision.

The teens were thrilled, thinking their argument was "too good", and, "Dad can't turn us down!", so they happily agreed to his having until that evening to consider their request.

That evening, after dinner, their father called his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. On the coffee table he had a plate of freshly baked brownies, still warm from the oven. The teens exchanged puzzled glances.

The father told his children he had given their request serious consideration, and had decided that if they would eat a brownie, then he would let them go to the movie. But, just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons.

The pros were that they were made with the best genuine chocolate and the finest, most wholesome ingredients. They even had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them. The brownies were moist and fresh with rich, dark chocolate icing on top. He made them using an award-winning recipe. And, best of all, they were lovingly made by their own father.

The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit of one special ingredient.

The brownies contained just a tiny bit of doggie doo… But he had mixed the dough well, and they would not be able to taste it. He had baked the brownies at 350 degrees, so any bacteria or germs from the doggie doo had been completely destroyed.

Therefore, he told his children, if they could each eat a brownie which included just that "little bit of crap" and not be affected nor influenced by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of smut" and not be affected.

I will leave the conclusion up to you, but only Dad was smiling when they left the room.

Now, when his teenagers are tempted to ask permission to do something he has advised them against, they just think of "Dad's Special Brownies".

~ Andy