CONFESSION AND GRACE - ALL AT ONCE!

Okay, here's the deal. It's been kind of crazy lately - busy at the church, people having problems, hospitalizations, serious accidents, VBS, speaking here and there for a variety of things, etc. I was glad for a night at home on Monday until the phone rang with one of our church members heading to Garden for possible emergency surgery. So I jumped in the shower, got dressed and headed for the hospital at 9:45 p.m. Thankfully the surgery did not take place ( at least not as of today). Anyway, here's the confession. I was ready to get back home. I was leaving about 11:15 p.m. or so and was in a hurry to get back. Yep, I passed a guy going too fast. At least that's what the patrolman said. He was right. He clocked me at 78mph going around a guy. (Actually I was going 79). Nothing I could do but fess up. So I waited in the car while he checked out my license etc. trying to figure out in my mind how much this was going to cost me. After all, I did break the law and there are consequences. About 10 minutes later here came the officer with a yellow piece of paper in his hand. All I could think was - "My wife's gonna love me for this". He handed it to me and too my surprise it was just a warning. No ticket. No appearing in court. No fine. Wow! How often does that happen? What an example of grace and mercy! I deserved a ticket, I was guilty, yet I didn't get what I deserved. I like that and I told the officer so. Needless to say, I was very appreciative (as was my wife).
Ironically we just finished a study on grace in one of our classes. But far greater is God's grace that that of the patrolman's. Now if we'd just respond to it..........................................