She stood on the edge, one foot raised above the rug. That rug captivated her attention so that she first stared, turned shyly away, then went back to watching it ponderously. She had to choose, and she couldn't forget that. But once she chose, she couldn't know what the consequences would be. She lowered her foot, close to taking the step, then drew back.
Daddy had made her a deal: If she stepped on the rug, she might get pinched - or she might get candy - or she might get both. Without the step, no candy, for sure!
Her daddy loved her. Whether pinch or candy, he would be doing good to her. She trusted him, but she still hesitated.
She tried to figure it all out. What did "might" mean? Was Daddy making a rule with a punishment for breaking it - or was this different somehow? Would Daddy pinch hard? How much freedom did she have? Could she go away and do something else (as if she'd be able to long forget 'the deal')? Was the whole rug implied? She wanted to be sure she wasn't inadvertently getting herself into the risk.
She climbed on the couch beside the rug. She sat on Daddy's lap for a while, held from the portentous tapestry by his strong arms until she was ready to make her choice. Then she was back on the edge, testing whether her chances were better if she made a covert move towards touching it.
Daddy spoke, "If you step, I don't want you to do it timidly. I want you to run out onto the rug and say, 'I'm touching it!' "
A little more consideration, and there she was - feet across the rug, yelling like her daddy said.
He caught her up in his arms and gave her his choice.
To God be all glory.
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