Conversations in the Car

Fun times as he was watering my plants before we left to do our errands for the day. Somehow, he got wet. These kids keep me laughing and I am beyond grateful for them.  

Words.

Riding in the car with my eight year old grandson the other day early in the morning, I was listening to a podcast by Lisa Whittle. Her daily 5 Word Prayers is 5 minutes long – her Podcast is called Jesus Over Everything. The conversations are right to the point and leave listeners with a five word prayer.

As one ended, I hear a voice from the backseat, “you know Nana, you think you are the only one listening to this, but there is someone else in the car listening too”.

It was a sweet moment. 

One reminding me how every word spoken or listened to in the vicinity of little ears is being received not only by me. 

One day, another grandchild was with me. Traffic was challenging and someone cut right in front of me causing me to stop abruptly. From the backseat, I heard her scream at the person telling them to get out of the way. We talked about how to choose our words and how to protect ourselves from letting others control our reactions.

I have many more examples but I will let you fill in with your own stories.

What if we used all the precious hours we spend in the car with our kids and grandkids as an opportunity to fill them up. Time without music or movies or talking on the phone allows for open spaces where I find conversations happening. It is there I wait for them to talk. I learn so much from them. When we listen to music, I have been reduced to tears as I hear a little voice from the back singing along with a christian song playing on the radio. 

This scripture challenges me to be more aware. As a parent, I never realized how opportune these times were. I didn’t take full advantage of them. As a grandmother, I treasure them. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NiRV

Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength. 

The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates. 

Isn’t this powerful? As summer ends and carpools and practice schedules loom just ahead, let’s be more intentional with our time in the car. It was a sad day for me when my two oldest grandkids got their licenses and I no longer picked them up from school, listened to how their day went and stopped at Chick Fil A on the way home for a treat. Oh how  I miss those precious conversations. I pray they remember those times we shared in their years ahead. 

“Lord, please heighten our awareness of who is around us and how we can interact with them in teachable moments. Please Lord, give us Your wisdom to follow the instructions you give us in this scripture and all through the Bible. We praise You, Father, for the opportunities we have to raise up this next generation to worship You. Use us Lord as your instruments to Your glory. Amen.”