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 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 I 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.

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.> >>>

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."

Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the

evidence of things not seen."