One day my dad took me to a nearby freight station, and we picked up a large carton. At the time, I had no idea what it was. When we got home, he took out the parts of a beautiful red bicycle, which he assembled and presented to me on my fifth birthday.
I rode it every day and everywhere. But one day I made a fatal error. And as Dad was backing up the car to take the family out to do some shopping, he backed the car over my beautiful red bicycle that I had left in the driveway.
He knew what had happened right away. He got out of the car, picked up the bicycle, and threw it as far as he could, saying some words I had never heard before.
I knew he was angry. I knew he was angry with me. I knew my bicycle was hopelessly mangled. I knew I would never ride it again. I knew I would never get another birthday present as long as I lived.
At least I thought I knew all that. But I didn’t know Dad.
A few days later, when I was used to the idea that I would have to walk for the rest of my life, I came out of the house to see him bent over the crooked bicycle with a propane torch.
I watched and as he heated, and straightened the frame. I realized he was actually fixing my bicycle. I realized that he wasn’t still angry with me. I realized that even though it was my fault that the bike was broken, he was making it right. I realized that the throwing of the bicycle and the choice words had been just a storm on the otherwise calm sea of my dad’s temperament–just a blip on the radar screen of life. I realized that he and I would still be friends. I realized that soon, I would be riding again.
That was my first conscious encounter with grace. It was a surprise, for I had my dad figured all wrong. I did not know his ways.
The same thing happens to us all the time. We leave our bicycle in the driveway of life, and someone backs over it. We believe our Father is angry with us, and things never will be right again. But we mistake the character and the ways of our Father.
God wants us to know Him. He has gone to great lengths to reveal Himself to us. God’s way is one of blessing, righteousness, love, and grace. God’s way is one of forgiveness. Jesus died to give you these things.
He loves you that much.
“Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins. . .”
Psalm 103:1-3