Eating Humble Pie
Posted on December 4, 2007
Filed Under Personal |
Last year my family was living in a community just around the corner from Focus on the Family. I remember one particular evening Jean needed to go shopping after dinner. I offered to hang out with the boys while she ran errands. I should point out it was already dark by the time Jean backed the minivan out of the driveway . . . 
right into our neighbor’s car across the street.
Jean wasn’t distracted or in a hurry. She just didn’t anticipate a vehicle parked by the curb. After all, our neighbor never parked his car on the street. Calling from the car, still shook up by the incident, Jean said, “Jim, I think I hit the neighbor’s car. Can you go check for me?”
Armed with a flashlight, I looked for evidence of the crash. Nothing. Not a scratch. Jean was relieved to hear the good news. The next morning I opened the garage door and went back outside to see if I’d missed anything. As I studied the car, my neighbor approached and asked what was wrong. I explained. Neither of us could find any damage. That’s when my neighbor looked across the street at our minivan in the garage and, with a broad smile, pointed to a giant dent in the rear end.
He said, “I think I won that one!” We laughed it off and went on about our business.
Back home, I explained what had happened and resisted the temptation to tease Jean for her carelessness. Outwardly I didn’t say anything negative. No condescending tone. Inside my mind—that was a different story. I admit I was feeling pretty smug. I confess I had a superior attitude. You know, I thought how much better of a driver I was . . . that’d never happen to me, blah blah blah.
Fast forward one year.
We now live in a home with a little more space for the boys to run around and more room to entertain friends. This particular evening we were having a dinner party for about twenty guests. As the visitors departed after a fun evening, I figured I’d move our cars into the garage to make it easier for our guests to depart. I hopped into the minivan and started to back up . . . right into my own car! I couldn’t believe it.
I bashed BOTH of our cars.
Me, Mr. Safe Driver. Me, Mr. Smug.
My first thought was, “How am I going to tell Jean?” After weighing the range of excuses, I decided full disclosure was the better part of wisdom—I had to own my carelessness. I went inside and said, “Jean, you won’t believe what I just did!” and then proceeded to tell her the truth—not just about my accident, but also about my poor attitude a year ago.
Jean was so gracious as she listened. I didn’t detect a trace of haughtiness in her spirit. I’d say my experience gives new meaning to Proverbs 18:12a, which says, “Pride first, then the crash” (The Message).
Does God have a sense of humor, or what?
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Jim Daly is the President of Focus on the Family. He has been married to his wife, Jean, since 1986. They have two sons. The Daly family resides in Colorado Springs. Finding Home represents Jim's musings on work, family and faith.
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I recently saw Jim on Joni’s TV show, and I was greatly moved by his testimony. I would really like to talk to him regarding my family situation. I just wanted to say it is encouraging for me to see that even when we go through adversity within our family, GOD always has a plan for our lives. My three children are separated from me, and each other, in the foster care system. Their names are Anaya (4), Tyree Jr. (3), and Jasyri (2). Please keep us in prayer, and keep up the wonderful work that you do for the kingdom. Thank you and may GOD continue to
bless your ministry.
Yours in Christ,
Ajura