Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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For When We Fail

January 16, 2012 By Sandra Heska King

It’s half an hour to the game. On good roads. The game starts at 10:20. I want to leave by 9:30.

I’m up, showered, dressed.

I yell up the stairs at 9.

The roads don’t look so good.

At 9:30, he’s shoveling, and I’m muttering.

At 9:40, he comes in, putters in the basement.

My muttering becomes stew.

At 9:45, we are backing out of the driveway.

At 9:50, he decides the highway will be better than the country roads.

He turns around.

And I start.

We are going to be oh. so. late. You knew it snowed. Why didn’t you get up? I am not happy. If you make us late . . .

The highway is not that much better. And we have more miles to go than the back way.

I pout.

I’ve already missed enough games while I was out of town.

So I start again.

I can’t believe we’re going to be late. We had plenty of time if we’d only gotten on the road. Why didn’t you get up? You’d think at your age you’d have learned to plan better. I am so mad at you.

He sighs. “I know. I should have gotten up. Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Last. Straw.

Why is it MY responsibility to be responsible for everyone else?

I yank the visor down. Flip up the mirror flap. Yep, that’s my mouth moving. And I’m wearing what my son used to call my mean face.

Just so you know, I’m not talking to you for the rest of the weekend!

I guess I should have eaten breakfast.

I jerk my face toward my window. Watch the white world pass. Snap some pictures. Keep my mouth shut.

He stops the car in front of the door.

What are you doing?

“Do you want to get out here?”

NO!

He pulls up further to parallel park on the side of the drive but stops before he straightens out.

“Why don’t you get out here so you don’t have to step in the snow.”

I yank the handle, throw the car door open, slam it closed, stalk through slush.

He parks, runs, beats me to the school door, holds it open.

I stomp inside, smile at the money-taker, hear ball thump and feet pound floor. A whistle blows.

I glance up at the clock. It’s already the second quarter. We’re ahead with three fouls. I later find out that two belong Grace.

My daughter waves, laughing. I’ve already texted that I’m going to kill her dad.

I plop myself down next to the other “nama” and tell him to “go sit down there.”

But we’re all laughing. And it’s all good.

And as she would say, all is grace.

*************

On Sunday he talks about Jonah.

About how Jonah tried to run from God’s call.

Like he could hide.

How he got found and tossed and swallowed and urped.

Because God’s the God of second chances.

And so he did what he should have done in the first place, and God had compassion on the people of Nineveh.

Because God’s the God of second chances.

And Jonah got so mad he started spouting stuff like “just kill me now.”

But God doesn’t. Because, he tells us, failure is not final with God.

He’s a God who forgives and fixes.

He is a God of grace and compassion.

He observes that often we learn best from the situations we respond poorly to.

I’m a slow learner.

I need fixing.

That night we go back to church to watch the movie Luther. I try to take notes in the dark. There are some great lines.

Like when the older monk tells Luther, who fears he is losing his faith,  that “we preach best what we need to learn most.”

Maybe I should teach about grace-filled, salt-seasoned speech.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. ~Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”  ~ Martin Luther (in the movie anyway–maybe for real?)

Getting my eyes off myself and counting the gifts: #1KgiftsDare 

January 13: Three sounds you hear.

37. Birds singing for and because of their seed.

38. The gentle snore of one I love–and the ability to hear it.

39. Furnace fan that reminds me of the blessing of warmth in the cold.

January 14: Three ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God.

40. A nine-year-old involved in a rollover accident on the way to her basketball game is okay and still arrives in time to play.

41. A husband’s unconditional love.

42. The world quilted in white.

January 15: One thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared.

43. Love my high-heeled black boots!

44. Regret for yesterday’s failure.

45. Lots of hugs.
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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Nancy says

    January 16, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    Oh, I know those foot-stomping, door-slamming conversations, Oh. So. Well. And the need for the second chances of grace.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:12 pm

      A conversation is two-way, right? I think this was a rant.

  2. Louise G says

    January 16, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    Thank God there is always Grace.

    Beautiful write.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:13 pm

      Always. Grace. Amen.

  3. Sheila says

    January 16, 2012 at 5:33 pm

    Number 44. I’m way too greedy, wanting to hoard my regret.

    Thanks, Sandy, for all of this.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:13 pm

      I’m not saying I won’t take it back.

  4. Dolly @ soulstops says

    January 16, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    Rejoicing with you for God’s second chances, and then some when we fail…wonderful writing… Thanks, Sandra 🙂

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:14 pm

      He gives me so many second chances. Thanks, Dolly.

  5. journeytoepiphany says

    January 16, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    Oh how I hate to say that I’ve been there friend. and. all. is. grace.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:16 pm

      A reminder of our need, right?

      My husband is a saint.

  6. Lyla Lindquist says

    January 16, 2012 at 6:34 pm

    Sandy, you’re beautiful. Even if you’re wearing your I-can’t-imagine-it-but-know-we-all-have-one Mean Face.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:16 pm

      I love you, Lyla!

  7. Janis@Open My Ears Lord says

    January 16, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    Thank you, Sandy, for the reminder that “failure is not inal with God. He’s a God who forgives and fixes. He is a God of grace and compassion.” I needed to hear that today for myself and for those in my life who have failed me.

    I liked the Luther quote from the movie, too. Facing the enemy head on with God’s salvation stops those darts in mid-air.

    Blessings,
    Janis

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:22 pm

      Thanks for that, Janis. The reminder of the second chances for others. We need to remember that their failures aren’t final–and that we can’t fix them, but He can.

  8. S. Etole says

    January 16, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Are you sure this didn’t occur on the way to church?!

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:23 pm

      Ha! It does have a familiar ring, doesn’t it?

  9. Linda says

    January 16, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    Oh Sandy – you make me smile. I am so there. I love your heart; I love the way you write; I am so thankful you are my friend.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:25 pm

      And I’m so thankful you’re mine!

  10. Michelle DeRusha says

    January 16, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    Yup, been there. I just love your honesty here, Sandy. I admit, I laughed (I’m sorry that it was at your and your husband’s expense…but it was only because I could relate so well!).

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:28 pm

      I’m glad you laughed, Michelle. I hoped for that. Do you have those days when you know you should zip it? The voice is telling you to. But you just don’t want to? Sigh.

  11. Shelly Miller says

    January 16, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    Oh, I thought for sure you were on your way to church because the mean face seems to come out on my way to church. Love your honesty and the way you told this story. Always honest and open to change. Nice qualities you posess.

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm

      And don’t you love how easily we can leave that mean face in the car once we get where we’re going? Especially church. Good sign that we can control ourselves when we want to. 😉

      Thanks so much for your encouragement, Shelly.

  12. Patricia says

    January 16, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    yep. =)

    • Sandra says

      January 16, 2012 at 10:32 pm

      I could have told you this story FTF today . . . 🙂

  13. Jennifer@GDWJ says

    January 16, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    Yep. I love you even more now. 🙂

    Thank you, friend, for your honesty.

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:03 pm

      I’m so flawed. And I love you more.

  14. diana says

    January 16, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    Oh, yeah – the Grrrrr moments. Had plenty of those. And why do they so often happen in the car?? And Ms. Etole is right on – 9 times out of 10? on the way to church! Ranting sometimes helps, but not so much when other people are there to hear it. :>) Thanks for the giggle tonight, Sandy. Glad you got there for most of the game.

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:04 pm

      I’ll bet the hubs will be up on time this week. Oh, wait. Game’s not until 6. But we did make it to early church with time to spare. 🙂

  15. Pamela says

    January 17, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Ahhh, life. We wait a lot at our house, too. I’m learning about keeping my speech grace-filled. I just wish I practiced from my heart what I know in my head. My husband rocks at this. Prince of offered grace, just like his Father, the King.

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:05 pm

      I’m real good at talking the talk. But walking it? Desperately need a Crutch. 🙂

  16. laura says

    January 17, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Oh, friend, I know this lesson well. Preaching grace…I could use some grace glasses today. Some days things just go all the wrong ways…

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:10 pm

      I know this lesson all too well. Sigh…

  17. Lynn Mosher says

    January 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Oh, how I have learned to not go through this! Wanna see the teeth-mark scars on my tongue? LOL And I’m still biting! Such a great post, my sweet friend! Such a great heart you have! Love you!

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:11 pm

      I have a lot of scars on my tongue, too. But sometimes… 🙂 Love you, too!

  18. Carol J. Garvin says

    January 17, 2012 at 5:03 pm

    We all know how petty we sound when we complain about little things, but the voices in our head insist on arguing, “But they’re *important* things!” Sometimes it’s terribly hard to keep our conversation “full of grace.”

    After some minor outpatient surgery yesterday, and a hurried trip to plan for a loved one’s memorial service this weekend, I’m feeling tired and cranky today. Your message is just what I needed to hear. You remind me of His grace, His love, His patience, and how badly I need it all.

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:12 pm

      Oh. Those. Voices. And I do think it’s harder when we’re tired or hungry or stressed. You’ve been so much on my heart these last few days, Carol.

  19. Janet Macy says

    January 17, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    Wonderful post. Wonderful reminder.

    Keep on keeping on .

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 8:13 pm

      Thank you, Janet. I love that we can all walk together and pick each other up when we stumble.

  20. r.elliott says

    January 18, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    just found you…I love honest post…one woman can relate to…my goal is life is to be gray and gracious…I laugh…I am graying very slowly…sometimes I wonder if my crown of glory will ever come:)
    blessings~

    • Sandra says

      January 19, 2012 at 11:48 am

      Thanks so much for coming by. I just visited your blog. What a testimony!

      My goal is to be gracious–but not gray. 🙂

  21. Joanne Norton says

    January 20, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    Years and years ago, when my 2 kids and I were living with Susie and her husband for several months … another long story … every once in a while she would just quietly say to me “Salt”. That was the indicator that I was sounding harsh, cranky, less-than-kind. Heavy sigh… not perfect even 36 years later. Try more, though. Life happens; mouth does, too.

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