Rock Chips and Repentance

A few weeks ago, I got a rock chip in my windshield as I was driving. I was really upset at first and told myself that I would get it fixed immediately so I wouldn't have to get the entire windshield replaced. I had to do that a few years ago and it wasn't cheap, so I wasn't too fond of repeating that process again.

I looked up places to get it repaired and then I had a crazy week of work. It wasn't growing or spreading further into my windshield, so I kept putting it off. Honestly by that point I forgot about it, until I came out of work one night and it had spread across 3/4 of my windshield. I was mortified! How could this happen?? I had every intention of getting it fixed before this happened.... but I had waited too long.

The chip had only been about the size of a nickel, and this is how it spread. I was really upset with myself the rest of that night. I was over it by the next day and scheduled to get it replaced the next week.

What does this all have to do with repentance, or anything related to the Gospel for that matter?

I was thinking how easy it is to let little things creep into our lives, like the rock chip, and we just let it slide for a little bit longer. Sins, mistakes, bad habits, whatever it may be, can easily be forgotten or ignored. This happens until we are forced to notice it, much I did when the chip had spread across my windshield. Any number of things can help us notice the crack spread in our lives depending on what the rock chip is.

Whatever it is, we will eventually notice it and have to do something about it. It may take some time to know how to best fix it or where to fix it, whether we need to talk to our bishop or if we just need to seek forgiveness from someone we've hurt. Whatever it may be, there is a way to fix the cracked windshield of our lives.

This is my new windshield. Doesn't look beautiful?? They also said with the new windshield I have a lifetime guarantee and can get rock chips repaired at any time. They had replaced it a lot faster than I had anticipated it would take, too.

I found some Gospel applications to this, as well. The ability to fix our cracks, or mistakes, is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He is able to make all things right and give us a fresh start. 

As I was trying to decide how I would pay for my windshield to be replaced, my sister helped me remember that I could have our insurance company help cover the cost. I just had to file a claim and pay a small deductible, in comparison with paying the entire amount of the windshield. 

My insurance company is like the Savior. He makes up the difference for what I can't pay, and He's willing to do it. He loves me, no matter how many times I crack my "windshield", and will help me pay to have it fixed or replaced. As long as I do my part to fix the mistakes I've made, pay my "deductible", His grace will take care of the rest.

Getting my windshield replaced, or fixing our mistakes, sometimes could take longer than we anticipate, and sometimes it can be faster. Healing can take as long as it needs to, and for some people it takes longer than for others. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long we wait to come to Him, Christ will love us no matter what and want to help us. He wants us to make it back to Him and Father in Heaven and has paid the price for us to come back. 

What Gospel principles can you find from my experience? I challenge you to look at my experience, as well as your own life experiences, and discover other Gospel principles that apply to your life. I'd love to hear your thoughts! As we learn to see the Gospel in our everyday lives, we can find ways to share it more easily with others.