Holidays

---

I knew I was guilty the minute I saw him.

There he was, parked in his shiny white car, with the bold, blue “POLICE” lettering glistening in the sunlight. I stepped hard on my brakes, but it was too late. I knew it was too late; I knew I was going way too fast. I knew what was going to happen; I knew I was guilty; I knew I should have learned from the last one!

Dumb, dumb, dumb!!! How could I be so stupid?

The police officer was very kind about it…he even remained kind when he found out my license was expired!!

Dumb!!! How could I have forgotten??? And what kind of witness was I, perched there on the shoulder of highway 4, with a police stooping by my rolled-down window? Lisa… the law-breaker!

“Well,” he broke into my whirling thoughts, “I can’t let you drive home without your license. I would be irresponsible—especially with all the kids in the van.”

The kids!! What must they think of me? I try to teach them obedience, and here I sit… Dumb!!

“You’ll have to arrange for a ride—I’ll wait here until they arrive.”

Yes, he was right; I was wrong. I knew it. I knew he was only doing his job, and he was doing a fine job; not the least bit arrogant about it. He even seemed to regret that he had to give me the tickets. Yes, TWO tickets, totaling $360.00. Very, very dumb.

Albert came and picked me up…He was kind to me too! The first words he said to me: “I love you, honey” with a soft, understanding voice, and a little kiss. Then I told him the amount…

Dear Albert drove me to the license office, and waited forty minutes while I renewed my license. How could he be so sweet to me? I felt so stupid!

The day passed by slowly with the shadow of my hefty fine over my head. I tried not to take out my sour mood on the children, but I think I was sharper than usual with them despite my efforts.


Wearily, I glanced at the clock, wondering what was taking Albert so long to get home. The clock said 5:55—He should be home by now. I turned to look out my front window, and my heart gave a jump. There was a police car parked at my front door! Albert???

I hurried out to see what was wrong, and was surprised to see that it was the same officer who had given me the tickets.

“I just wanted to let you know, you can rip up the one ticket I gave you.”

I blinked at him, and I think a little, “OOhhhhh!” came out of my mouth. He smiled a bit, and then continued. “Just go ahead and rip up that big ticket. It was a pretty hefty fine, and I saw that you were honest, and got your license renewed. Now I want you to rip it up”

I felt warm tears prickle the back of my eyes. He was so serious! He really, truly wanted me to rip up that ticket. I rightly should pay that fine. I had been wrong. He really didn’t have to hunt me up, drive down my terrible laneway, and go through all that trouble, just to tell me that I, the guilty one should rip up the ticket!

Well, from five o’clock on, I’ve been thinking this through in my mind. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, and the timing of this couldn’t have been better.

As I mulled it all over in my mind, after a while, it wasn’t about the kind policeman anymore. Before my eyes, I can see my Saviour, Jesus Christ, holding out His nail-pierced hands to me. It’s as if He’s saying, “Go ahead, and rip up the ticket!” The list of my transgressions against His holy law… Every crime that I have done, and all the penalties they have incurred…

The Lord Jesus bursts forth from the tomb with a triumphant, “All hail!”
And today, He crossed the bounds of time and came to me with, “I just want to let you know, you can rip up the ticket.” My debt is cancelled! I do not need to bear the guilt or shame. The penalty is fully paid. Praise God for His unspeakable gift!!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE