I got in a car accident today.
Not a BIG one, just a teeny tiny one...
...but t o t a l l y my fault.
This morning was one of those mornings that refused to wake up and take the day by storm. It wanted to meander and daydream and pause, all the while expecting the minute hand on the clock to follow suit. It refused. As the minutes sped by, the Queen of this humble green castle (myself) became restless and crabby. Her demeanor reflected the panic of impending tardiness, and she began barking orders to her lowly (only because they're short) subjects, which didn't succeed in motivating the morning (or the subjects) one bit.
The morning did, at the very least, offer up sunshine and beautiful frosty blue skies, which were fully appreciated as we climbed into the Royal Minivan nearly an hour past the start of kindergarten. Knowing that the morning's antagonism had already dampened the spirits of her subjects, the Queen spent several minutes entertaining them as a "fire-breathing" (or frost-breathing) dragon, restoring the laughter and smiles to her little kingdom. Well worth being five minutes later, and after kisses and hugs, Princess J skipped happily into school.
Off we went to deliver shoebox gifts to our church, which were supposed to have been turned in yesterday, but were being loaded into shipping boxes this morning. One shoebox filled by each of our children (and their queen)...full of toys and pencils and toothbrushes and trinkets of all sorts...and a sixth unexpected shoebox filled with the overflow of the other five. Shoeboxes, full of the love of Jesus, sent to six children in third-world countries who are desperate to know of their treasure-status in heaven.
The morning's lack of motivation nearly caused our shoeboxes to "miss the boat", so to speak, but also afforded us the special opportunity to pray over all the boxes stacked down the hallway (about seven hundred altogether) and ask God's blessing on the little lives that receive them for Christmas.
A few hours and a few errands later found Princess M, Sir C (my valiant knight), Baby K and the self-titled Queen all strapped into the Royal Minivan on our way home.
Oh, impatient Queen. Will you never learn?
The cars in front of us were stopped. There was a long line of cars. Far too long of a line of cars for me to wait through, I thought. In the time it takes to act without thinking, I was swerving into the right lane, intent on going around them.
The problem was, there was another car already there.
So often, I beat myself up for the bad example I set by not being perfect. I'm horrible at being submissive. I'm late for everything. I say things without thinking. I make mountains out of molehills. I lose my temper. I don't do the laundry when it needs to be done. I don't clean the house when it needs to be cleaned. I have trouble resisting anything loaded with carbohydrates.
And even this morning: no patience, late for school,
nearly missed the shoebox shipment,
frustrated by insignificant things,
drove into other peoples' cars.
Today, though, my kids also saw their mom (feeling less queenly than ever before) admitting her mistake, accepting complete responsibility for her actions, apologizing to an upset driver, humbly asking for forgiveness, praying to thank God for protecting us, respectfully talking to a police officer, telling the absolute truth regardless of consequences, and accepting those consequences without whining or grumbling.
And though I fail miserably every day to set a consistent Godly example, I know this one incident spoke volumes to the impressionable children that witnessed it....a lesson that is well worth the price of a ticket.
I don't want to be one of those Christians that talks a good talk, I want to be one that walks the good walk. Today, in those moments, I actually did it. I walked the good walk.
After the driving skills I exhibited today, maybe I should be walking more often anyway.
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