|
Hello My friends,
Here is something we all need to read and always remember.Have a blessed day. Kathy
THE TRAFFIC TICKET
>
>Read This Slowly
>
>
>
>Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55
>zone. Fourth time in as many months How could a guy get caught so often?
>
>
>
>When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only
>partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some
>other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out
>of
>his car, the big pad in hand.
>
>
>Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was
>worse
>than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who
>happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A
>guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.
>
>
>
>Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd
>never seen in uniform.
>
>
>
>"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
>
>
>
>"Hello, Jack." No smile.
>
>
>
>"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."
>
>
>
>"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.
>
>
>
>"I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules
>a bit -just this once."
>
>
>
>Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast
>beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you mean. I also
>know that you have a reputation in our precinct." Ouch. This was not going
>in the right direction. Time to change tactics.
>
>
>
>"What'd you clock me at?"
>
>
>
>"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"
>
>
>
>"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as saw you. I was barely
>nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.
>
>
>
>"Please, Jack, in the car."
>
>
>
>Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it
>shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.
>
>
>
>The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.
>
>
>
>Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?
>
>
>
>Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat
>near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There
>was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two
>inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.
>
>
>
>"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.
>
>
>
>Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in
>the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going
>to
>cost?
>
>
>
>Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?
>
>
>
>Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:
>
>
>
>"Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a
>car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail,
>and
>the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had
>one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her
>again.
>
>
>
>A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought
>I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And
>be
>careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."
>
>
>
>"Bob"
>
>
>
>Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the
>road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too,
>pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a
>surprised wife and kids when he arrived.
>
>
>
>Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message; please
>pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully. Remember, cars
>are not the only things recalled by their maker.
>
>
>
>Funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like
>wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the sanctity of
>life, people think twice about sharing.
>
>
>
>Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many
>on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what
>they
>will think of you for sending it to them.
>
>
>
>Pass this on, you may save a life. Maybe not, but we'll never know if we
>don't try.
>
>
>
>May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly
>where you are meant to be. "I believe that friends are quiet angels who
>lift
>us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
|