What’s the harm in a little treat?

By JAMES SNYDER

The last month has been crazy for me and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Every month has its crazy element, but this past month beats them all.
First, my main computer crashed, and I lost a lot of stuff.
Second, we had a hurricane that came through; fortunately, it was only thunder, rain and loss of electricity.
Third, I came down with what the doctor said was acute bronchitis. I told him I did not think any of this bronchitis was cute.
Fourth, my next book manuscript is due this month.
That was just the main highlight of the past month, and by the time it was over, I was over the hill. I just felt washed out and needed a little bit of rest.
I resumed working on my book. Then, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came and said she would be gone for the day with one of our daughters—thrift store shopping.
I told her to have a great time, and she said she would be back sometime in the afternoon and that I had to get my lunch. That was OK with me. I sat back in my chair with my computer and resumed working on my manuscript. I was finally getting caught up and would soon be finished.
Taking a break, I got up, got a fresh cup of coffee, returned to my chair, sat down and relaxed. There was this strange thought in the back of my head that I could not clarify.
After several sips of coffee, I leaned back and looked around to see what was missing. Something was missing, and I just could not put my finger on it.
After my kind of week, it is no wonder my brain is not working as well as it should. However, I thought I would relax and see if anything came to mind.
The whole day was before me, and I was thinking of what I would do for lunch when I could not get this gnawing thought out of my head. It was like a rat gnawing up in the attic and was so unsettling. It was right before me, but I could not get my focus clear.
Oh well, I sighed, took another sip of coffee, set my cup down, and was about to go back to work when the thought suddenly jumped out in front of me.
I love it when a plan comes together.
I saw for the very first time what was missing. After a month of all kinds of hectic activity, I needed something to relax me. At first, I could not figure out what it was, but then it came to me.
What I needed was a little treat. What harm is a little treat when you need to relax?
I looked at my watch, saw the time, and realized that The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would not return for another four hours. That gave me plenty of time to deal with my treat.
You guessed it, that treat was an Apple Fritter. What harm does a little treat like that have when you deserve it? And, boy, do I?
I quickly got into my truck and headed to Publix. I was about to buy one Apple fritter when another thought came to mind. Why not buy two apple fritters? What harm do two little treats have?
Without hesitation, I got the two apple fritters and took them to the cash register, hoping nobody would recognize me. My bad luck was that the cashier was a friend of my wife and knew about the apple fritters controversy.
“Does your wife know you’re getting these apple fritters?”
After stuttering for a few seconds, I said, “Well, she’s away for the day and gave me permission to get my own lunch for today.” I smiled at her, paid for the apple fritters, left the store and went home.
Getting a fresh cup of coffee, I took that and the apple fritters to my easy chair to sit back and enjoy this little treat. After all, I earned every bite.
After a few hours of work, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage finally came home and walked into the kitchen area with a bag of groceries. I noticed on the bag was the word Publix. I hoped she had a different cashier than I did.
“So,” my wife said as she entered my room, “I hear you were at Publix this morning.”
“Yes, my dear, you told me I needed to get my own lunch for the day and that’s why I went to Publix.”
“Did you get an Apple fritter?”
Now, my words need to be very precise. “No, my dear. I did not get ‘AN’ Apple fritter.”
The look she gave me made me realize she did not believe me. What I said was true but it was not the whole truth. That got me remembering what Solomon said, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
According to Solomon, half a truth is still a lie if it makes the other person believe what is not the whole truth. I knew what I had to do. As much as it pained me, I had to confess to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage that I had two Apple Fritters.
Smiling at me she simply said, “I know.”

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com.