Sometime in the last couple of weeks, Chris shared with me a very moving story.
About a boy and his car keys.
In said story, the boy is a frequent victim of his racing thoughts. Thoughts so important and coming in a rapid fire like manner, they prevented him from remembering to get his keys out of the ignition. Often.
The boy would turn his car off only leaving the radio on and then when it came time to exit the car for school, he would leave them locked inside.
I, of course, being the sympathetic and compassionate person I believe we can all agree I am, was grieved for that boy. For the times he was frustrated with himself for doing something silly. Again. And then over again.
Saddened for a father who had to make that special trip to unlock his son’s car all the while thinking Can he not just put them in his pocket?!
And if I’m being totally honest (which I prefer to be), saddened for his future wife who would undoubtedly open a filled to the brim dishwasher and remember the last conversation had with the boy involved the phrase “Nah, I’ll keep the glass in case I need it and then turn it on before I go to bed.”
Sigh.
I remembered this moving tale and how compassionate I had been during it’s telling while I stood next to my car Sunday morning holding a baby, diaper bag, purse, bible, Stripes and a large soda and staring down into the driver’s seat where my keys sat.
Inside the very much locked car.
I believe this to be the only time I have locked my keys in my car. But that may not be true. For some reason, I tend to block out my past failures. Especially when I feel the need to be smug and all gloaty-like about someone else’s moments of grace.
So this week, I am grateful that boy did not get all smug and gloaty-like with me but instead simply left work, got in his car and drove the 45 minutes south to unlock the car.
Also very grateful the baby was in my arms and not in the car.
It’s rather nice when we’re shown grace. Especially when we do not in any way deserve it. I deserved to have Chris laugh directly at me. Deserved for him to gloat and remind me repeatedly how easy it is to simply forget something. Deserved to be made to feel lowly and pathetic.
Because there’s a rather high probability I made him feel all of those things as he told me his story.
Thank you babe for showing me grace. With lots of prayer, perhaps I’ll be able to do the same next time.
About a boy and his car keys.
In said story, the boy is a frequent victim of his racing thoughts. Thoughts so important and coming in a rapid fire like manner, they prevented him from remembering to get his keys out of the ignition. Often.
The boy would turn his car off only leaving the radio on and then when it came time to exit the car for school, he would leave them locked inside.
I, of course, being the sympathetic and compassionate person I believe we can all agree I am, was grieved for that boy. For the times he was frustrated with himself for doing something silly. Again. And then over again.
Saddened for a father who had to make that special trip to unlock his son’s car all the while thinking Can he not just put them in his pocket?!
And if I’m being totally honest (which I prefer to be), saddened for his future wife who would undoubtedly open a filled to the brim dishwasher and remember the last conversation had with the boy involved the phrase “Nah, I’ll keep the glass in case I need it and then turn it on before I go to bed.”
Sigh.
I remembered this moving tale and how compassionate I had been during it’s telling while I stood next to my car Sunday morning holding a baby, diaper bag, purse, bible, Stripes and a large soda and staring down into the driver’s seat where my keys sat.
Inside the very much locked car.
I believe this to be the only time I have locked my keys in my car. But that may not be true. For some reason, I tend to block out my past failures. Especially when I feel the need to be smug and all gloaty-like about someone else’s moments of grace.
So this week, I am grateful that boy did not get all smug and gloaty-like with me but instead simply left work, got in his car and drove the 45 minutes south to unlock the car.
Also very grateful the baby was in my arms and not in the car.
It’s rather nice when we’re shown grace. Especially when we do not in any way deserve it. I deserved to have Chris laugh directly at me. Deserved for him to gloat and remind me repeatedly how easy it is to simply forget something. Deserved to be made to feel lowly and pathetic.
Because there’s a rather high probability I made him feel all of those things as he told me his story.
Thank you babe for showing me grace. With lots of prayer, perhaps I’ll be able to do the same next time.
We've all done it and have been so mad at myself when I do. My car will even make a different beep sound when I'm trying to lock the keys in the car. It will only let me do this 3 times and then the car figures you must really want you keys in the car and so the car will lock. That's when my brain says, 'Wait! Why was it making that weird sound?' Then I reach for my keys and then this sinking feeling comes and I realize that's why it was making that noise. A helpless feeling! At least AK was in your arms.:) Love, Mom
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