Encounter with a Cop

Calm When I Goof

Calmness can lay great errors to rest. (Ecclesiastes 10:4)

As I left the store, I noticed a flashing red light in the parking lot. Soon I realized the police were prying into my car with a coat hanger. Racing to the scene I asked, “What’s the problem?”

“This your car?” shouted one policeman, ignoring my question. “You didn’t put it in park,” accused the other officer. “It rolled back and creamed this van. Besides that, you left your lights on!”

Shame on you, Joan, I scolded silently. How stupid! I didn’t want to run this errand for my husband anyway.Then I caught myself. Okay. It isn’t my husband’s fault. I made a mistake. I wish I had put the car in park and turned off the lights, but I’m human and I goofed.

I drove my car forward in response to the officer’s directions. Thanks to sufficient safety bumpers, neither vehicle incurred any damage. The policemen smiled sheepishly.

Sometimes I panic and first resort to belittling myself (or others) when I’m faced with a problem or crisis. Perhaps you’ve experienced this as well. The good news is that with practice, you and I can learn to release our shaming and blaming tendencies and respond in new—and relaxed—ways to each day’s diverse situations and unique mistakes. Relief follows. Ahhhh.

Lord, help me break my old habit of shaming and blaming. I want to practice calm when I goof up. I need Your help.

Make It Personal: When’s the last time you goofed? How did you react? Given an opportunity to respond again, what would you do differently? ____________________________________________________________________________________

This devotion was taken from It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life: Devotional Readings for Women Who Strive Too Hard to Make It Just Right by Joan C. Webb and released by Regal Books. Three minutes a day will help to free you from the joy-stealing temptation to try to make yourself, your family, your spirituality and your dreams “just right.” For more information about purchasing this book click http://tinyurl.com/DevoBook.

WIN A BOOK: To put your name in the hat for the April 21 drawing for an autographed copy of It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life, comment here with your response to the “Make It Personal” Q’s . . . or just a “Hi Joan!”

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