I hold an annual Christmas party every year. In 2015, the party fell on the 12th, and my daughter and I spent the early part of the day running errands and preparing for the party. On the return trip home, I pulled into the parking lot of a church located on the corner of my neighborhood. My daughter gave me a quizzical look when I put the car in park and looked at her expectantly. She had recently obtained her driver’s permit and had already undergone the 8 hours of behind the road driver’s training from a professional. According to her driving instructor, she had done quite well. It seemed like a good day to let her practice her skills, so I let her drive home.
She did well on our brief six-block drive from the corner… until the end.
As she pulled into the driveway, I pressed the garage door opener. She looked at me in surprise. “Go ahead and pull in slowly”, I said. She tentatively edged the Tahoe into the garage, stopping when we had pulled about halfway into the garage.
“You’ll need to pull forward a bit further,” I advised, “otherwise we won’t be able to close the garage.” She tentatively edged further forward. Then, in a moment of confusion, she stepped on the gas instead of the brake. In the blink of an eye, the Tahoe lurched forward, slamming into the workbench, shelving and back wall of the garage. Daylight streamed in through the gaping hole in wall. We both sat in stunned silence, shocked.
Calmly (to my credit) I said, “Put it in reverse and back up.” She looked at me, eyes both terrified and blank.
“Hunter,” I insisted, “you have to put it in reverse.” Nothing. Her eyes were glazed in shock, foot now firmly on the brake.
I reached over and moved the gearshift into Reverse. “Take your foot off the brake.” She obediently lifted her foot, and the Tahoe rolled back slowly, debris falling off the front end.
“Stop.” She immediately braked. I reached over again and put it in Park. We sat in silence for a moment, gaping at the damage.
“Wow,” I murmured quietly, and the moment stretched. I opened the door, stepped out, and walked around, surveying the scene. “Wow.”
The back wall of the garage was torn open in the center, exposed to the elements. Cold air blew in, and the heater in the garage had quickly kicked on. The shelving was obliterated; exploded paint cans leaked taupe paint across the garage floor. Strewn across the floor was a multitude of incomplete projects that had previously littered the workbench.
I’ll spare you the rest of the details, but here are the highlights:
My Tahoe was totaled and the damage to the garage was in excess of $25,000.00.
The accident could have easily set the tone for the rest of the day, but I quickly decided that it wouldn’t. Yes, there WAS a fair amount of damage, but it was just “stuff”. No one was hurt, and the car and house were fully insured.
A neighbor and other friends came over to help me, and within a few hours (and after a quick run to Home Depot), we had quickly erected a frame to support the wall & roof. The heat was disconnected to keep my bill under control. Minor cleanup was done, the car was deemed “not drivable”, and I called my insurance company to report the accident and open a claim. Our party preparations continued (albeit somewhat muted in enthusiasm) and our annual Christmas party went off without a hitch.
Bottom Line: I made a choice to focus on the positive and did not let the negative aspects of the day dictate my emotions, perspective or attitude.
As a result:
- We enjoyed another fabulous Christmas party with beloved friends.
- I had an opportunity to practice grace, and
- My daughter was reminded that while I do have high expectations, I do not expect perfection, and that mistakes are part of learning and life.
It has been over six weeks since the accident, and repairs on my home still haven’t commenced. I remind myself that this too, shall pass, and all will be well. I continue to try to practice grace in action daily.
Have you had a moment to show grace lately? Please share your experience (briefly) in the comments below.
