Mercy Calls

There we were.

Driving along in our little car – one big happy family.

I noticed a policeman parked on the opposite side of the road and mentioned to Jonathan, “Hey, I don’t know what the speed limit is or if you’re going over it, but you might wanna slow down.”

{cue dramatic music}

Mr. Policeman decided to pull out and follow us at that exact moment in time.

For the next 1.6 seconds, I watched my side mirror like a hawk. Because hawks always watch side mirrors closely.

I stopped watching after 1.6 seconds because Mr. Policeman decided to turn on his lights. No, we aren’t the type that encourage police chases. So this is the state in which I found myself:

IMG_20120914_112829

Unfortunately for all of us, this picture does not do justice. Because, let’s be honest, you can hardly even tell it’s a police car.

I started grabbing out the documents from our glove compartment all while trying not to cry. {being pulled over by a cop always makes me an emotional wreck. pun intended.}

And then I remembered this series. I couldn’t think of a blessing right then, but thought the moment was worth taking a picture of anyway. {I thought about pulling out my Rebel instead of my phone. But I didn’t think my hubby would appreciate that. So I tried to take this on the sly.}

Turns out, Mr. Policeman decided to extend mercy. I think part of it had to do with the fact that the speed limit had just drastically decreased. Or maybe it was because he saw 2 small kids in the back and figured we were just 1 happy family speeding on to a good time.

Either way, he gave mercy. And it certainly was a blessing in disguise.

31 Days 2012


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Comments

13 responses to “Mercy Calls”

  1. Chelo Avatar

    Christa, this is a really neat series! I does us good to purposely count our blessings. A good practice I myself should keep daily because of my tendency to be negative. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  2. Dad Avatar
    Dad

    “being pulled over by a cop always makes me an emotional wreck.” Intrigued by the word “always” – so how often does this happen?

    Ha. Could’t resist. Your loving, praying, protective Dad

  3. Christa Avatar

    I don’t dare answer this on my blog. 😉 love you and glad for your love, prayer, & protection. 🙂

  4. Christa Avatar

    It’s been good for me too. And it’s only the 2nd day. 🙂

  5. Dad Avatar
    Dad

    the plot thickens…

  6. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    Oh my goodness!! I totally understand the “Emotional Wreck” part, I cried when a police officer pulled my over to let me know my tail light was out! hahaha I wonder want P.T. would have done if you pulled out your Rebel…;)

  7. Christa Avatar

    hahaha…no telling. And hopefully we’ll never go through this again and need to find out. 😉

  8. Rachel Avatar

    Yes…mercy is always a blessing! (but I wish we received it when we’ve been pulled over (ahem). =)

  9. Heather Avatar

    Wow…that was really nice of him. Love your series, Christa.

  10. Christina Avatar

    LOL! glad you got mercy 🙂 I balled my eyes out the first and ONLY time I got a ticket at age 17. It didn’t work 🙁

  11. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    Thanks so much for reminding us to look for the blessings even when it looks grim! We were missionaries for 2 years in Haiti and we were in port-au-prince when the major earthquake happened. A policeman pulled us over that afternoon for running a yellow light and a two hour run around ensued trying to pay the ticket. As a result we were not on our dangerous mountain road when we should have been. The road was utterly destroyed with landslides and we would have been dead had we been on it. God used an unjust policeman to spare my husband and I and the lives of 7 young people whom we had picked up from the airport that morning! Sorry for such a long comment, but I have to give Glory to God for his amazing mercies! He spared us time and time again in those two years! To God be the Glory!

  12. Christa Avatar

    Jessica, that is awesome. I was just reading this morning about how God wants us to submit to authorities because HE’S the one who placed them in our lives. When we have the humility to submit, God promises to exalt us in His timing. {I Peter 5:5-7}