Three Red Scratches on a Black Car

Tight parking spots can be very challenging. The limited space forces you to be so careful getting in and out of your vehicle. One day while getting back into my red Ford Ranger after shopping at our local Walmart, I was horrified when the blustery wind caught my driver's side door. The black car parked beside me received three red scratches, one on top of the other, where my door parts hit. The black car was not super nice, but it was still someone's vehicle. Oh, how I hated that I had scratched that car! My first thought turned to the possibility of needing to pay for the repairs. I called my husband at work to get his input on how to handle the situation. Since there was no one in the black car, my husband encouraged me to leave a note on the windshield telling the owner what happened. It's sad to say, but my selfish human nature did not really want to leave a note. But I knew that it was the right thing to do. Not having any other paper with me, I wrote a note on the back of my grocery list and put the paper under the windshield wiper on the driver's side of the black car. In my note I apologized for causing the scratches, and I wrote my cell number. Then I left Walmart. A little while later I received the following text: "Hi Susan! My name is Josh, and I got the note you left on my car. Don't worry, it is okay. I want to thank you for reminding me that there are still good people out there. Hope you have a great day." Being honest can be hard sometimes. The inner self can recoil at admitting when we've done wrong, even if it was an accident. In spite of how it may sometimes hurt, honesty is so good for us. As much as I feared the financial consequences of possibly having to pay for repairs, deep down I felt at peace with myself that I had done the right thing. Being honest cost me my pride. If I had not been honest though, it would have cost me my conscience and a good night's sleep. Resist the temptation to avoid owning up to your mistakes. Be totally honest. God will honor you for it.

Oh, and watch out for those tight parking spaces… especially on windy days! A Scripture to ponder... "Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17).