Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down. He was doing 73mph in a 55mph zone. This was going to be his 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 with a big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little anxious 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 and a man he'd never seen in uniform. (Read Related : Great Love Stories) "Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
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. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license? Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door made him jerked his head to the left. There was Bob with a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a bare two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip. (Read Related : Thank You Messages) "Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice. Bob returned to his 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? It was certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read. "Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when she was 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 a get to 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. My son is all I have left. Bob" Jack twisted around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full fifteen 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.
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