October 27, 2005 11:17 PM
Tender mercies
Ever have one of those days when it seems you did nothing but drive?
With my now-constant-companion homeschooled Maddy in tow, we drove Daniel to see his specialist in Fairfax - a good hour away but 90 minutes during morning DC commute. Then home to get Jesse off the bus, then over to Janet's to pick up Justin from his regular Thursday afternoon visit with her daughter (they both have Down syndrome and are the same age), then to the John Deere place in Purcellville to wait for my son-in-law Kip and his carpool to swing by and pick up Maddy on their way home - she's spending the night and going on a field trip with here nieces and nephews tomorrow. Then since Samantha and Kip are going to a mini-marriage conference at McLean Bible Church, all the kids will come and stay here.
Whew.
In the meantime, Tripp had driven 3 1/2 hours to Lynchburg to oversee Ben's knee operation (3 wandering pieces of broken bone removed and 6-12 weeks on crutches) and bring him home. They just hobbled in the door when I had to leave to take Sophia to dance class.
After dropping her off, I decided to ignore my rapidly emptying gas tank for a little therapeutic shopping - or at least, wandering vacantly around the aisles at Ross. I was tootling serenely along when suddenly I noticed a pair of flashing blue lights behind me.
Gulp.
Pulling over, wondering what in the world was wrong, I rolled down my window, trying my best to look harmless.
The hat. The boots. The flashlight.
"May I see your driver's license?"
I wish. You see, I haven't been able to find my license for the last two weeks. Think that's lame? It gets worse.
"May I see your registration?"
"Well, officer, I always keep the registration in an envelope in the glove compartment with the insurance information, but somehow a few weeks ago, it mysteriously disappeared. I don't know whether the kids accidentally threw it out while cleaning the car or. . . ." Voice trailing off, feeling like I must look like the biggest liar in the world, but it's all true. And the worst is yet to come.
"Do you know your tags are expired?"
"Well, this is really unbelievable that all these things happened at once, but I did send in my renewal and I did get the little sticker things to put on the tags, but somehow after opening the mail, I lost them. I think I might have put them in the trash.
"I know this is really strange, but I just haven't had time to begin to figure out how to handle all three of these problems. I have a lot of kids and. . . ."
"Your name, please." He's taken out a little notebook and is writing in it. I feel so foolish and beyond believability.
"Do you know you crossed over the painted median before the last light?"
Bingo. So that was it. Yes I remember. He takes down my address and social security number and heads back to his car. Having begun crying several minutes ago, I continue. Is it self-pity? Exhaustion? Fear of points on my license? Humiliation? Or is it just the end of a long day about everyone else but me?
I think how I might ask him to have mercy. And then decide that I will throw myself on God's mercy instead. I pray.
I wait what seems like an hour with streams of traffic passing by, thankful that it's dark, not even bothering to wipe the tears, wondering why I turn into a baby in this kind of situation.
The lights whizzing by are punctuated by darkness and I realize he is coming back, clipboard in hand. Ah, it's too late. He's already written the ticket.
"Mrs. Curtis, this is a summons for you to appear December 15 at District Court to answer this charge: driving without an operating license. That's all I charged you with."
And then I really start crying. I didn't deserve this gift. But God gave it to me anyway. I've always wondered how people talked their way out of tickets. It’s something I’ve never been able to pull off. But I guess tonight God knew I’d had as much as I could handle.
Thank you, God, for tender mercies.
Posted in Inspiration | Permalink
Comments
Thank you for sharing this today.
His compassions are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness...
Posted by: floorplan | October 28, 2005 5:03 AM
Barbara, I think we all do that at least once - driving with a lost license. I'm sure I'm going to get caught someday too. Your tears are understandable. (I thought you were going to tell us you ran out of gas.)
Posted by: Monika | October 28, 2005 7:40 AM
floorplan: that's exactly the hymn that came to my mind too!
Monika - I hadn't thought of that. Too funny (rushing out to check to see where the gas gauge is, since I was too shaken up to remember to look at it the rest of the night).
Posted by: barbaracurtis | October 28, 2005 8:53 AM
What a day! Thank God for mercy. :)
Posted by: Mel | October 28, 2005 12:19 PM
Barbara,
I'm so glad I'm not the only one. We've lost two kids' social security cards in the last year, and of course, both of them need their SS cards in order to get a drivers' license--need it NOW. At least we have an excuse. "I have a lot of kids and . . ."
What's really comforting is that I happen to know that the same things happen to people who don't have that excuse.
Posted by: Sherry | October 28, 2005 2:21 PM
