Buck Paulson

Whenever you need to make a correction in Acrylic painting, it is helpful to do it while the paint is still wet, and that means right away! Making a quick correction is true in life also. “Don’t let the sun set on a disagreement is advice I remember.

I recall years ago when I was a coach in Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada. I had a lot on my shoulders: I had a beautiful wife, I was an American, I was the team coach, and I played baseball for the town team, I was a church leader in the town, and I was loved by everyone.
This all sets up “What might have been if a correction hadn’t been made.

The principal asked me if I would give some gym experiences to a 4th grade class each Friday morning. I was thrilled to do it! The youth absolutely loved to come over to the high school gym and participate in the activities that I had arranged for them. What enthusiasm they had.

So it was a little strange one day when student after student announced that he/she couldn’t participate that day. Sickness was the main reason. Then one student came limping in. I did my best limping imitation and said, “I guess you can’t play either.” We went ahead and did the best we could with the limited participation.

Canada gets dark very early in the winter. I was at the supper table when the phone rang. I could hardly understand the broken English of the speaker. I finally made out his words. “You made fun of my son today. He had 13 operations on his foot just to be able to come to school.

I was stunned. I told him that I would come right over and apologize to his son. He said, “No, you can do it at school on Monday.”

I said, “Absolutely not, I want to see him tonight!”

So, I drove over to the boys house in the dark and cold winter night. I sat on the corner of the young boy’s bed and apologized to him. He was very pleased ………and forgiving. So was his father.

I was happy that the father had called me. If he hadn’t and only told others about “THAT American,” it would have hurt my country, my religion, and myself.

How important it is to correct mistakes, be they on the canvas or be they in life. And correct them quickly