Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Bold (emotionally) (08/30/07)
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TITLE: Mercy, grace, help� | Previous Challenge Entry
By sheri stafford
09/05/07 -
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Because I had two warrants in my name, one in the city and one in the county I was processed at the city jail first and then transported to the county jail. My picture was taken as I hold up a strip with numbers like you see on Law & Order. Unlike Law & Order you don’t jump from arrest to appearing in court after you hear that “DING-DING”.
My crime you might wonder was driving with an expired car tag. The Warrants you ask? Failure to appear in court for a traffic violation and a speeding ticket. I called my brother in law the day I received each ticket and asked for a favor since he was a state trooper. I probably should have followed up on that after he and my sister in law divorced a shortly after that…
When officer friendly informed me of my impending arrest, with handcuffs no less, he also handed me three new tickets. I do love surprises. Did you know that when you do not pay your fines for traffic violations or speeding tickets they suspend your license? Today was becoming a very educational day for me. I was eager to learn more
The drive to the county jail was quite. Prayer would have been a good thing and most appropriate but I had no idea where to begin. A kind lady jailer wanted to know how someone like me found herself here. I told her the technical reason but I knew it was much more a spiritual situation than anything. I mentioned my son’s ballgame starting at 7 p.m. and did she think I would make it? She smiled and told me not to plan on going to that game. This was a holiday weekend and for most, if not all, judges that holiday started Thursday evening. Wasn’t likely any Judge would be in today to grant bail. I would be enjoying the hospitality of the Madison County Jail until Tuesday.
I was issued a groovy v-neck orange jumpsuit and matching flip flops to wear during my stay. Though I mentioned that orange really wasn’t my color they insisted on photographing me again anyway. The county was more high tech than the city and new numbers appeared automatically on my second portrait. I was handed a ratty dark blue mat that had definitely seen better days. This was my new bed.
I entering my cell noticing that the cinderblock walls were damp and the floor felt wet under my flip flops. The air in the cell was thick and had a faint smell of urine. I was completely over whelmed and about to lose it emotionally as asked The Lord, “What on earth is going on? How am I in this mess?” Don’t you love the voice of the Lord, it’s unmistakable. “Well” he said, “let ‘s start with you have been expecting others to handle your junk. You are flipping through your life as if you are in control and this is where your efforts have brought you.”
All I could do was hang my head. But I knew scripture and scripture said “Repent” which I did immediately. I remembered Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." I needed mercy, I needed grace and I needed help. So I came boldly to my God as I paced the floor of that small cell and I received what I needed. Grace, mercy and help.
The cell door jerked open and the jailer that just locked me away not 10 minutes early said, “I don’t know who you know but your outta here, come on.”
Mercy, grace, help…It’s always there when we need it when we’re bold enough to ask.
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