Everyone in the neighborhood knew Billy and Joey were best friends. And
riding buddies, too, as you never saw one Big Wheel without the other. Riding
before they were toilet trained, they loved to ride, so when the new Big Wheel
was bought at their preschool, they couldn’t wait to ride it. They were taking
turns, when Joey went too fast, and hit a rock, losing control, and breaking the
new ride. Billy went to see if he was OK, and seeing his best friend was began
to check out the Big Wheel, when the aide came to investigate. Seeing the new
toy broken, she immediately started yelling, over reacting even though she
hadn’t seen what had happened, and soon other teachers were involved. And
seeing the blood on Joey’s arm, reported it as required by law. Which brought
licensing out, who immediately put the school on probation, closing it until the
investigation was complete, making sure the preschool was in compliance with all
ADA, OSHA, and local laws. Which bummed both Billy and Joey because they liked
school, particularly the riding part.
But Joey’s mother was also called as part of the operating
procedure, and she was immediately upset with the aide, claiming abuse, and
screaming about it to all who would listen. Made even worse by the fact she was
taking a tennis lesson when she was called.....So the school shut down, the
teachers all took an unpaid leave, and the crime scene was investigated. Now
Joey’s dad owned a catering firm, who supplied all the meals to the school, and
Billy’s dad worked for him. When Joey’s dad got the call, he was glad both kids
were OK, but bummed the school was closed, he needed that account, and might not
make it without it. Reviewing his business, he needed to make some radical
changes, and had to let Billy’s dad go. Billy’s dad understood, and knew when
business picked back up, or the school opened, he would have a job again. But
his wife saw it differently. She saw it as retribution for Joey crashing, and
Billy should have been blamed too. And it upset her social life too, as they
had just re-signed a new lease, and they were barely making it. She would have
to go back to work, and had been enjoying her freedom. And when confronted with
that, and also the fact that they couldn’t afford the new rent, talk was they
might have to move back in with her sister. A fate worse than death to her, as
her sister was a one upper, always bragging about how she was better than her
sister. Meanwhile Billy and Joey continued to play and ride their Big Wheels at
home, still best friends, and unaware of all the problems their accident had
caused.
A month passed, then two, and the school had not heard from
licensing, and still was not open. Joey’s dad was barely making it, and Billy’s
family was faced with moving back with his aunt, his mom’s sister. As the
family packed all they had in the rented van, Billy and Joey took one final ride
together. Not wanting to leave each other, they rode longer than they should
have, and Billy arrived home finding his parents packed and ready to go. “No
room for your Big Wheel, son, you’ll have to leave it.” Breaking Billy’s heart,
so fighting the tears, he did the only thing he knew to do, and gave it Joey.
“You’re the best friend I ever had, take good care of it for me.” As the tears
flowed from both boys. A final wave for the school, still closed as they passed
leaving town.
Never hearing from the preschool after a few months, Joey’s dad
decided to pay them a visit. Still closed, the mail was stacked up, and in the
box was a letter from licensing. It was dated less than two weeks after
incident, but looked like it had only been delivered yesterday, as it was on
top. They had cleared the school of any wrong doing, removed the closure
status, and given them a clean bill of health. They could open again, but the
damage had been done, and it was too late. The school remained closed, no one
was sure if they ever did retrieve their mail, Billy’s dad eventually did find
work in another town, they lived with his sister in law for a few months, and
Billy found another preschool. His mother took more tennis lessons, he never
saw Joey again, but he did get another Big Wheel. But rode solo....All because
an aide over reacted when boys were just being boys. Two best friends, one
school, one man’s career, almost one man’s business, and a mother’s tennis
lessons all disrupted by poor judgment on one person’s part. Amazing how one
person’s bad judgment, or sin had caused so many others to suffer.
There is no such thing as isolated sin. Yet in this we are
asked a question, maybe more logical than you would think. If where sin
abounds, does grace abound more, why not sin more and see more grace? Sadly
many think this is the answer, giving rise to a great truth, you must screw up,
sin, to see God’s mercy. But since we are born into sin, we already have it, we
don’t need to seek more sin. We should seek grace first and foremost. But
when Paul addresses this idea, he is dealing with continual sin, a self seeking
sin that we think benefits us. Maybe a panicking in a panic situation, knowing
what we are doing is wrong, yet doing it anyway, knowing God’s grace will bail
us out. But forgetting s price is paid for our bad decisions. Consider King
David, one afternoon walking on his roof he sees Bathsheba, not his wife,
sunbathing. She is beautiful, he can’t resist, she doesn’t say no, and soon she
has David’s baby. His friend’s wife, and so he panics, bringing Uriah home from
the battle field, to have sex and maybe Uriah will think the child is his, David
being excused, not forgiven. But Uriah refuses to leave his troops, and David
sends him to the front to be killed. Story not yet over, as later David and
Bathsheba have Absalom, who after desecrating his father’s concubines-ten of
them, rebels and dies in battle in a civil war. David mourns for Absalom, whom
he has loved....all because of one afternoon delight that wasn’t his to have.
Plotting and planning how to fix his sin, when grace was available to make
things right. Jesus stands ready today to forgive you, to make things right,
but we must let him. Cool and under control to the end on the cross, we can
have the same cool Jesus has, if we ask. Instead of sinning to see more grace,
we can have more grace without sinning, and without the potential of ruining
others. Today is the time to break that chain.
Where you look, you will follow. Look to sin, you will follow,
endangering your family and others. But look to Jesus, and you will see
blessings to you, your family, and all you come in contact with. One bad
decision can be over ridden by God’s forgiveness, a decision in both cases on
your part. No need to go through the pain David did, or to lose a son like he
did in Absalom. Or even a friend in Uriah. It may be a chance encounter with a
sunbather, or a fast motorcycle, or alcohol and drugs. Jesus came because we
sinned to show us the way back, not to stand by and fill us with grace based on
sin, but grace based on love. God’s investigation of our heart reveals much,
and fortunately he delivers us from sin. So if you must over react, over react
to Jesus first. He never panicked, yet stood firm. One man by his sin led us
all astray, yet another by his love and sacrifice led us back to God. It may
just be a story of two kids and Big Wheels, the big things usually start small.
Repent early, trust God, and avoid the consequences. For God so loved us, he
sent Jesus. The original Big Wheel, that whoever should ride with him shall
have life eternal. Seek that forgiveness today, David was a great king, and yet
suffered greatly. We all fall short, don’t panic, turn to Jesus. Don’t wait
for sin to bring grace, it is available without sin. Live in Jesus, and if you
do sin, turn to him. And since that if is more of a when, seek him all the
time. All the laws couldn’t keep the preschool open, it takes grace. Show some
today via love, and watch as doors open, rather than close. Quick to hear. slow
to speak, slow to anger. Just like what we want shown to us. Start a
revolution today by showing love and grace. Without waiting for sin to open the
door. Jesus stands at the door...what you do with who is on the other side is
your choice. I choose grace, because grace chose me first. David chose
Bathsheba. But in both God shows us grace. Avoid the pain, and avoid sin. But
when you do, seek Christ. Be forgiven, and forgive others. Boys will be boys,
but Jesus will always be Jesus.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com