Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Audio By Carbonatix

I noticed a cop at the front entrance of our offices a while ago. Let me tell you, this is not a regular occurrence, so everyone took notice. This particular female officer was in a blue and gray uniform looking quite intimidating and official. To tell you the truth, she had me nervous. While a few staff were talking with her, everyone else in the office was looking around and peering through the windows trying to figure out what exactly was going on. We were all thinking of and making up reasons as to why she could possibly be here. As the Cops theme song ran through my head, I slowly meandered my way out to where she was because I thought that maybe I could help deal with whatever looming crisis was on the horizon. Little did I know that she was there for ME! Yes, ME! Believe me, I was pretty shocked when I found out I was the reason for all of this hoopla.

I was accused of driving off without paying for gas. I’m telling you, thank God for that law that says everyone is innocent until proven guilty, because I was able to prove my own innocence there that day. After jumping through quite a few hoops, I was able to show that I had actually attempted to pay for the gas, and honestly did not know that the credit card machine was not operating correctly on the gas pump. When our forefathers created that “innocent until proven guilty” law, I’m sure they did not have me in mind, but I was grateful for their foresight at that moment.

But after it was all done, and as I was laughing along with a lot of my co-workers at my own expense (you just have to do it sometimes), I found myself thinking how often this very scenario can happen within our families. It is so easy for us to just assume that someone in our family has done something wrong, even though they may in fact be innocent. And because of their reputation or because they’ve done it before, it’s pretty easy to assume that mother-in-law of yours, or that son of yours, or even that dad himself has made the same old mistake they’ve made a billion times before, and therefore they’re guilty once again. So, on behalf of your mother-in-law, your son, your dad, and everyone else who is in fact innocent, it sure is nice to have a chance to prove you haven’t done what you’re accused of doing! In fact, it caused me to re-evaluate the accusations that I often sling, without ever really considering the possibility of innocence first.

So, every now and then with your family, and especially those people you live with on a daily basis, go ahead and give them the benefit of the doubt. Don’t always assume they’re wrong. Don’t just always assume that they have your worst interests in mind. Don’t just assume they did it again. Instead, let’s try to show some grace. Give them a little bit of a break—and yeah, go ahead and laugh about it later. But most of all, make sure you try to allow them innocence until they’re definitely proven guilty. So, if you’re the cop who shows up at the front door, be careful with the handcuffs.