Of Cars, Kids, and Conversations

I love a captive audience, don’t you? I find great, often diabolical, humor in the reality that my children are forced to endure their mother’s words: questioning, singing, preaching, teaching, inquiring, (sometimes) lecturing . . .

Because when we live sixteen miles from school, we do much of life in the car. And for most of the twelve years since my oldest started school, I’ve worn the chauffeur cap.

I hold my children captive for thirty minutes twice a day, since our commute takes us down winding country roads that boast views of cows, horses, and beautiful sunrises (and occasional tractors causing traffic jams). We listen to music, to our favorite radio morning hosts, sometimes to sermons or to the audio Bible from my phone. And we talk about all of it. It took me awhile to realize these stolen moments alone with my kids wouldn’t last forever.

Confession: I complained at times about all the driving. Even sunrises and birds can lose their appeal when accompanied by grumpy, sleepy, or arguing children.

Did I mention that I have four children? Yep, ages 17 to 8, all of whom still attend school.

You will hear me talk about my family often as this blog develops. As I’ve driven them hundreds of times through town, across the county, and around the country, I’ve watched one of them grow out of carpool and into driving himself (slay me). Every fall, I lose another one to football; Dad takes him in early for practice. These developments warned me: my babies will be captive for a finite amount of time. I’d better use it well.

As a mom who loves and follows Jesus, I desire to instill a deep faith in my children—modeled by their father and me, supported by our church, community, and friends, and informed by the Bible. But the world fights for their attention. Sports, homework, electronics, school activities . . . they take over after school.

But only after they get home.

Deuteronomy 6:5–7 offers God’s classic instruction to parents on faith and how to pass it to the next generation:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you drive* along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (*Mathews RSV  . . . it really says “walk” but I don’t do that often)

Of course, I also spend time alone in the car, driving to work, running errands, visiting friends, etc. And in North Texas, nothing is “just down the street.” So I have plenty of time to think, listen, sing, and pray. Some of the most profound truths ring out of my stereo speakers. 

I hope you’ll stick with me* as I share some of the truth I’m passing along from the driver’s seat—and what I’m learning while I sit there.

(*add your email to the form on the right sidebar and I’ll send you my latest blog post when it gets published.)