In retrospect, I knew something was up by the way Whitney was hiding. Her fear reflected in every crease and blush on her face for all to see. Her body language said it all, something was terribly wrong. While Whitney hid, Carli unveiled the story.
The steering wheel stuck, Whitney could not or did not stop, and the tree did not move. The hole in the corner of the front end of the lawn machine told the rest of the story. From the bits and pieces described by Whitney and Carli, there was evidence that this was more of an accident than a careless act of a kid out of control. However, the evidence was not conclusive.
Dad took the high road with unconditional grace. It would have been easy to be upset and frustrated with two active kids. The hit damaged an otherwise unmarred machine. The tree out in the open was, by normal logic, avoidable. Dad, listened, accepted her apology, and moved on without a negative comment. Dad also came back quickly with an encouraging joke about Whitney’s new nickname, unsure if it was “Lucky” or “Crash and Burn”.
It is almost too easy to get down on oneself for failing to follow our own priorities with God. I intend to do one thing and accomplish the opposite. I try to let go and end up holding on to my ways even more tightly. I strive to follow and keep jumping in the lead. No matter what I do I end up going the opposite way.
I can only imagine how easy it would be for God to get frustrated. The lessons are out in the open for me to see, understand, and from which to learn. The pitfalls are obvious and I hit them every time! God could be frustrated; I could be living under the damning statement of the way I actually behave. However, “those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation,” (Romans 8.1) grace.
