Caught Red-pawed

Every art class that I do a demo painting, I usually then spend the rest of the week trying to turn it into a finished work. It is never a great piece during the class as I draw quickly just to give the kids an idea of what to do, but then spend most of the class going to them individually.

So the last class I did the little dog in this post, but without the roses or overturned vase. That part I added later because the pup just seemed like he needed to be mischievous. When I finished it, I was very pleased with it, and showed it to Asherel right before we dashed off to class. As we were about to leave, she asked if she could have some yummy peanut butter filled pretzels I bought as special but high calorie snacks. I told her she could have ten. I am trying desperately to instill the idea of "moderation" in her , a lesson she is not eager to absorb.

As we settled into the car, she with a big smile on her face and her cup of pretzels, I told her, "I really would love to use that new picture in my blog... but it is about things that really happen, and nothing has happened that the picture represents."

"How about someone trying to get away with something?" asked Asherel.
"Well, yes, but it has to be true. "
I glanced at her cup, which I then noticed was overflowing with pretzels. That was the biggest number of ten pretzels I had ever seen. She giggled. I then realized she had also thrown in enough gourmet crackers (another special snack) to fill out the cup. I didn't even need to ask...as I knew she would say "You only told me 10 pretzels. You said nothing about how many crackers I could have."

We both burst into laughter, and she said, "You could title it Caught Red-Pawed."

She is not alone. Just like that dog in my picture who is undoubtedly already planning his excuse for the rose dangling out of his mouth, we are all masters at satisfying the letter of the law, but stretching the spirit of it a bit. If you are about to deny that, think about the speed limit and how you obey it exactly, not once going one mph above it. I rest my case.

The only time Jesus erupted in rage was at the Pharisees, who he said obeyed the letter of the law but not the spirit. I suppose with commands like the number of pretzels you are allowed, it does not have eternal consequences, but I think perhaps even that is a practice round for the more momentous choices you make in life. So while I do applaud Asherel's sense of humor and impeccable timing, I caution her and me, and all of us,

¹⁰"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16: 10-11)