“As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise.” Elder Richard G. Scott.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

To the officer that gave me a ticket...

A few weeks ago on a Saturday morning, we pulled our license plate off our car to clean it and add the new year to the plate.
"If you take the plate off, give it a good wash, dry it, make sure the plate is warm, the sticker will stick better" I remember my dad telling me when I bought the car from him.
I sent Mr. Miller out to put the plate back on and forgot about it until later on in the day. 

I was out doing running around and had M in the car with me.
She really is the sweetest 5 year old around.
I was stopped at a light that had just turned red. 
I picked up my phone and sent my mom a quick text.
"Mom, can I use your club card at the store to get a discount on sugar" 
Send

I waited for the light to turn green and when it did, I went.
About 2 kilometers down the road there was an officer in the right hand lane that was going slow.
I proceeded to pass him on the left hand side, not speeding at all. 
As soon as I passed him he got behind me, flicked on his lights (thank heavens no sirens!) and motioned for me to pull over.
All of a sudden all I could think about was the stupid license plate and thought Mr. M had not put the plate back on. 
I was panicking mildly.

When I pulled over, the cop approached me and asked if I knew why I was pulled over. 
All I could think about was that stupid plate.
"Please tell me I have my license plate on the back of the car"
"Yes Ma'am, your plate is on your car"

"You pulled me over because I sent a text at the light?"
"Yes Ma'am. Not only that but I saw you pick it up as you were driving down the road. I was going to let you get away with it but when you picked it up driving with your daughter I knew I could not let it go"

I KNEW I had not picked it up while I was driving down the road. 
I looked over and saw a chocolate bar next to me on the seat and explained to the officer that it was a chocolate bar that I broke off and gave a piece to my daughter.
He believed me but still had to give me a ticket.
Fair enough, I was the one that sent the text.

I have thought about this a LOT in the past few weeks.
We all have things in life that we do that we know we should not do.
I am not the only one who has done this, won't be the last.

But to the officer that gave me the ticket, I say THANK-YOU!
Thank-you for reminding me that more importantly than sending a text about sugar that I should be talking with my daughter at a red light. 
She is the best sugar a mother could have.
Thank-you for slowing me down enough to remind me to enjoy the moments with my children.
Thank-you for being kind to me in the pull-over.
Thank-you for teaching me that honesty is appreciated. 
He was grateful that I said I sent the text, that I didn't argue or fight him on it.
Thank-you for not giving me a ticket for not having my insurance but knew that I had it because I was being honest about texting.
Thank-you for being kind to my daughter and explaining that mommy is not a horrible person.
Thank-you for teaching my daughter to say "Mommy, no texting at red lights!" e.v.e.r.y.t.i.m.e we get in the vehicle.

I am grateful for lessons in life that come our way. 
They do not always come in the way I would like but $172 is a lesson I would rather pay than others that I can imagine.









1 comment:

JRoberts said...

Glad you can find something to be thankful for in a ticket. :) Better attitude than mine would have been for sure.

I totally agree with all of these points, but especially with the one you make about really being there with our kids. Just because we are in the same place at the same time, does not mean we are spending time together. Thank you for the reminder to be more aware of my boys and the time we spend together.