Penalty Flags

Today was one of those days where you feel like everything that could go wrong did. As I reflect on my day it is like watching a football game that is filled with an enormous amount of penalties. Sometimes I wish I could be an NFL referee. I would love throwing the penalty flag! In case you are not familiar with football, a penalty flag is thrown when there is well, a penalty or infraction. And today was a day full of penalty flags.


I overselpt - penalty flag - I had to be the last one in our house to take a shower.


My son complained about his sprained wrist hurting - penalty flag - I feel guilty because I have to go to work instead of staying home and caring for him.


Thick fog=wrecks on the highway - penalty flag - I was late to work.


After being at work for only 2 hours the school calls and says Zac is crying because he is in so much pain - penalty flag - my boss is upset with me because I have to leave work to go pick up my son.


On the way to Zac's school I am pulled over for speeding - penalty flag - a speeding ticket.


That's it! At that point I've had all I can handle. while the officer is processing my ticket I lose it. I break down and begin to cry. It's only 11:45 am and my day has already seen more penalty flags than a Raider's game.


I am angry with the officer for pulling me over. After all, I wasn't the only one exceeding the speed limit. And he doesn't care that I am concerned about picking up my hurt little boy or that I'm worried about my boss being upset because I only worked 2 hours today. No, he doesn't care about those things, he is simply doing his job. I broke the law and it is his job to enforce consequences when the law is broken. It is his job to throw the penalty flag. And I deserve this penalty flag. Actually, I probably deserve all of the penalty flags that have been thrown today.


So, tonight I am thinking about penalty flags and their purpose. A penalty flag is thrown for a foul, an infraction, a bad decision like unsportsman like conduct. We all face penalty flags or consequences for our fouls, our infractions, our unsportsman like conduct. Tonight I am thankful that God doesn't throw penalty flags. He does discipline but not with penalty flags. I can only imagine what the field would look like if God threw a penalty flag every time I needed corrected. Yikes! But God doesn't throw penalty flags. He pulls the GRACE card. Thank you Jesus for the grace card! When we mess up God doesn't give us what we deserve, He gives us what we need. What if we were more like that? What if we pull the grace card more than we throw the penalty flag? I'm not saying we should turn a blind eye to blatant fouls or infractions. But what if the next time my kid forgets to take out the trash I pull the grace card instead of throwing the penalty flag?


Or how about this for an ending? When I finally got home and got Zac situated and comfortable I pulled the speeding ticket out of my purse and found that the officer had only cited me for 5 over the speed limit. I clearly remember him telling me he clocked me going 15 over. Look at that - he pulled the grace card! Thank you Jesus for the grace card!