Stand in the gap

Today, as I was driving home from the mall, I drove into my father in law's subdivision.  I let my thoughts wonder about the voting season.  My husband and I have already voted and I wondered how we could allow my father in law to exercise his right to vote...even at 97.

We voted at the Kingwood library and while the line was long, it went quick.  We waited about 20 minutes then headed out of town. 

My first thought was that we could all three drive to the library and I could go stand in line.  I could then call my husband in the parking lot and he could walk his dad up to my place in line.  Then all the logistics came to mind.  Surely there would be at least one individual that would question me allowing two men to "cut in line."

I would then have to explain how my father in law is 97, and we're trying to make this easy on him because he took a fall last week and is still sore, and he really wants to vote and on and on.   Why would anyone question that when they can see a man shuffling to get in line?  They see the obvious but what they are missing is that I am merely standing in the gap.

I am holding his spot so that he doesn't have to stand and shuffle and stand and shuffle!  After all, even Moses needed someone to "stand in the gap" for him when his hands got heavy.  Even bigger than that, Jesus stood in the gap between my sin and salvation.  He stepped in and took my place so that I would benefit. 

I wish I could tell you that we followed our plan...we didn't.  In the end, we decided we would just take him to the local community center to vote.  We know he would enjoy seeing the faces of the community and neighbors.  Well, it was a good thought.

All I can say is that I will never turn anyone down if they want to stand in the gap for me.

Don't forget to vote!

When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only but in the one who sent me.  When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.  John 12:44-45