Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Car Trip (07/18/05)
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TITLE: UNMERITED FAVOR | Previous Challenge Entry
By Billie Jean Millen
07/25/05 -
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“Let’s hit the road. Christmas will be over before we even get to Grandma’s!”
“Okay, okay.” I said, glancing around the car, shaking my head and grinning helplessly at sons’ frustration. I hoped I’d remembered everything. It was too late now, if I hadn’t. My three sons had spoken! We had a four hour ride ahead of us and as far as they were concerned, my dallying was a stronghold to be broken. It was time to move!
We pulled out of the driveway and headed for the Interstate. Happily, everyone else had either left earlier or stayed home. The driving was great. The Northern Illinois weather was unusually warm for this time of year and before long the boys shed their jackets and settled back with their hand-held games or their thoughts.
No white Christmas this year. But that wasn’t all bad, especially if you happened to be the driver. After about 90 minutes, we entered the town of Valparaiso, Indiana.
“Hey! Look! You won’t believe this! Santa on a motorcycle!” One of the boys yelled, pointing excitedly to my left.
Sure enough. A young man pulled up beside us at the stop light on a Harley-Davidson, decked out in a certified Santa suit, complete with the cap and long flowing white beard. Packages were carefully secured on the seat behind him. He didn’t look like he had the slightest interest in a sleigh but he sure knew how to handle a bike.
He grinned at the boys and they nearly waved their arms off, laughing and talking excitedly, tickled at this most unusual sight. When the light changed, he nodded our way then headed west, roaring out of sight.
What a neat guy, I thought. He’s sure gonna make someone’s day. He’s already made ours.
“That’s one cool dude!” My oldest exclaimed.
“Yeah, he’s totally awesome!” My middle son agreed.
“Yeah!” My youngest piped up, giggling. “Mom, you need to drive fast like he did.”
“Yes!” My older sons concurred. They all insisted I must do better.
I decided they were right and in no time, we were doing some serious cruising, going almost 80 miles per hour. The road was ours. .
After an hour I had made some fabulous time. We didn’t see anymore red Santa suits driving up behind us, but my focus suddenly diverted to the rear view mirror where fast-approaching flashing blue lights got my complete, undivided attention. Now, the only place I like to see flashing blue lights is K-Mart. And this sure wasn’t K-Mart.
Great. I’m toast. Now what? Am I going to sit here and lie to this guy in front of my kids? Gee, officer, I didn’t know I was using the road like an Indy race track. Oh yeah, that’ll happen, I thought sarcastically.
Glumly, I pulled over, chafing at my stupidity. I’d never gotten a ticket in front of my boys, but this was clearly about to change. Sighing heavily, I rolled down the window and handed the officer my license and registration.
“Ma’am you were speeding.”
Thanks, Einstein. True genius should not go unrewarded.
“I know.” I grumbled, resigned to my fate.
He glanced at my documents, the boys, and my car loaded with our gifts. Then he handed the papers back to me.
“I clocked you going 75 in a 55 mile zone. Just watch your speed. No ticket today, Ma’am. Merry Christmas.” He finished quietly.
We gaped at him in stunned surprise. If anyone ever deserved a speeding ticket it was me and we all knew it.
“Thank you, Officer. Thank you very much.” I whispered, grateful and humbled. My smarmy, sarcastic attitude was gone, replaced with a heaping dose of shame.
He nodded and headed back to his vehicle. I had just been granted some richly undeserved, entirely unmerited favor.
“Mom, I can’t believe you didn’t get a ticket. You were flying.” My oldest said, his voice low.
“He gave me a break I didn’t deserve.”
And that’s just what Christ did, too. He came to earth and took our sins on Himself, dying that we might live eternally. He gave us all a break we didn’t deserve. Thanks to His supreme sacrifice, we who love Him can look forward to celebrating Christmas in Heaven, with Him, the Author and Finisher of unmerited favor. I hope I’ll see that officer there. Somehow, in my heart, I think I will.
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