“I put three quarts in, and this vehicle only holds four quarts.”
Oops.
The voice on the phone sounded almost cheery – the gritted-teeth sort of cheerfulness one reserves for informing someone of transgressions. Someone one has told many times before.
“The person who normally drives this vehicle did not MENTION to the person who normally changes the oil on this vehicle that THE GAUGE IS AT THE BOTTOM. In fact, I didn’t even NEED the gauge, I heard the engine rattle WHEN I TURNED THE MOTOR ON.”
Cringe. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry . . . I guess I didn’t notice.” Very lame.
A pause. “That’s what you said the last four times this happened.”
Major oops. Major cringe. Major atonement needed.
I sought advice from a married co-worker. “Well, you can’t very well bring him home a dozen roses,” she pondered. “Wait, I know! Just walk right up to him, throw your arms around his neck, give him a great big smooch, smile and say, ‘Honey, I KNOW you love me!’”
Would you believe it worked? And it sure beat mumbling “sorry” repetitively for half an hour. Nobody likes a groveler.
For those who’ve acknowledged Jesus as our Savior, no further atonement is possible. Not even for spousal misdemeanors. Grace is ours, but it has to be received, and that’s pretty tough to do with one’s head down and one’s tail between one’s legs.
Naturally, grace in hand, wifely good deeds do tend to follow – but as gifts, not quid pro quo. And if anyone has a great tip to jog my memory on watching that gauge, I’m all ears.
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3 comments:
Yeah...I would not like flowers. Once a girlfriend of mine gave me a flower and I hated it.
You know, there was one time I gave Mitch red roses when we were dating. But I tied a fishing license to the bouquet. So the roses were more like a creative gift wrap and that worked :-)
Oh my. One thing that always works for me is having had a car whose engine seized up due to no oil. Losing a car is a bad way to learn.
It's good to have a husband who loves you even when you don't check he oil. Wonder why he doesn't check it for you given your history...
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