How a Missed Appointment Became a Heart Appointment

It was early in the morning. The house was quiet except for the hum of the coffee pot, and I sat with my Bible open. I came across a verse in Proverbs about anger.

I remember thinking to myself, Well, thankfully that’s not really one of my struggles.

I smiled, closed my Bible, and started my day — unaware that God was about to give me a real-life lesson on that very verse.

The Appointment That Fell Apart

The next morning, my daughter — who had just turned eighteen — had an important doctor’s appointment. We’d been waiting two weeks for it since the doctor was out of town, and I’d already told my work I’d be late that morning. She’d been dealing with some health concerns that had me worried, and as a mama, I was anxious to get some answers.

Everything seemed fine until we reached the front desk.

“Does Katie have her photo ID?” the receptionist asked politely.

I blinked. “Her ID? No… but I’m her mom. You have her records; you’ve seen us before.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” she said. “Now that she’s eighteen, she’ll need her own photo ID to be seen.”

My heart dropped. What? We’ve been here dozens of times!

I tried explaining that she’d just turned eighteen, that we’d been waiting weeks for this appointment, that she was still on my insurance — but none of it mattered. Policy was policy.

Something in me snapped. I felt my voice tighten and the tears start to come. “So you’re telling me you’re not going to see my daughter today? After we’ve waited all this time?”

The woman looked uncomfortable but firm. “I’m sorry, ma’am. That’s what the supervisor said.”

I could feel anger welling up. I wasn’t yelling, but my tone was sharp — clipped — the kind of tone that comes out when frustration mixes with helplessness. I said something like, “Well, it would’ve been nice if someone had mentioned this ahead of time!”

She looked at me with that sympathetic yet guarded look that people get when they’re just trying to survive a customer meltdown. I knew I wasn’t being my best self, but the emotions were running wild.

Running in Circles

Thankfully, the DMV was just down the street. I rushed home to grab her documents, then drove back determined to fix this. Everything went smoothly until the clerk handed us the receipt — with no photo.

“I remember when I renewed my license, there was a photo on the receipt,” I said. “Can you do that?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he replied gently. “We don’t do that anymore.”

“How long until her actual ID comes?”

“Usually about two weeks.”

Two weeks.

I barely made it to the car before the tears came. I was angry, frustrated, and feeling completely out of control. My daughter sat quietly beside me, watching her mom fall apart.

“Mom, it’s okay,” she said softly.

And just like that, the Holy Spirit nudged my heart. Here I was, the adult, throwing a fit over something I couldn’t change — while my daughter, the one who should’ve been upset, was comforting me.

Lord, forgive me. Help me calm down.

Facing the Music

I knew I needed to go back to the doctor’s office to reschedule. The thought of walking back in there made my stomach twist — after all, I hadn’t exactly left on the best note.

As I stepped through the door, I could feel the tension in the room. The receptionist’s body stiffened slightly. I caught a nervous glance exchanged with another staff member. It was like everyone was wondering, Is this the lady who cried and got snippy earlier?

And yes… it was.

I took a deep breath, walked up to the counter, and said softly, “I just want to apologize for how I acted earlier. I was frustrated and worried about my daughter, but that wasn’t fair to take out on you. I’m really sorry.”

Her whole expression changed. The tightness in her shoulders relaxed, and her face softened into a genuine smile. “It’s okay,” she said kindly. “I completely understand. It’s stressful when you’re worried about your child.”

We rescheduled the appointment, and by the time I left, the tension had lifted. What had begun as an awkward, heavy moment turned into a small exchange of grace between two human beings just trying their best.

God’s Gentle Reminder

Driving home, the verse from Proverbs came rushing back to mind — the one I had so proudly dismissed the day before.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18

I laughed softly to myself. God had given me a living example of that truth. I thought I didn’t struggle with anger… and within 24 hours, He proved otherwise.

But it wasn’t out of cruelty. It was mercy. He loves me too much to let me stay blind to my own heart. And though the lesson stung, it also freed me. Because when God exposes something in us, it’s not to shame us — it’s to heal us..

God’s Sense of Humor

Later that day, I finally made it into work at the little church where I serve as the admin. My pastor already knew the story because I’d texted him about being late.

When I told him how the day unfolded, he smiled and said, “Well, at least you’re wearing the perfect shirt for the occasion.”

I looked down — and burst out laughing.

Across my shirt were the words:

“Not Perfect—Just Forgiven.”

God has a sense of humor, doesn’t He?

That day reminded me that I’m still a work in progress. He’s still softening me, humbling me, teaching me to surrender control — and showing me that His grace is always bigger than my mistakes.

I may not be perfect, but I am so deeply, wonderfully forgiven.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” — Psalm 103:8