A Prayer For Driving Them to All The Places

Patient Father,

The margins of my days
are so often filled with
drop-offs and pick-ups,
errands and appointments,
small moments of scrolling in a parked car,
waiting for a child’s practice to conclude.

I am left feeling less like
your beloved child, God,
and more like a machine
in a warehouse—
roving here and there
to complete tasks.

However…

these frequent car rides
are so often the setting for
unexpected laughter
and meaningful conversations
with my kids—
small connections that leave
both of us feeling closer to each other,
and to you.

It’s just like you, Lord,
to meet us with joy
in our ordinary moments;
driving through main streets
and kicking up gravel on rural roads—
the in between spaces.

May I treat these commutes
as sacred spaces of connection,
rather than inconveniences or routines.

May my eyes light up
when my child enters the car,
and may the words and music we share
create memories and meaning
further-reaching than we can know.

I give thanks for these children
to drive to all the places.
Thank you for this vehicle
to drive them.
Thank you for places to be
and people to be with,
for the highway and the home,
the hustle and the rest.

May I never take these days for granted.

Amen

Family Connection Moment

Many parents and psychologists have noticed that kids tend to open up more in the car. It’s side-by-side instead of face-to-face, the ride has a clear beginning and end, and the conversation can come and go naturally. Knowing this, try to be open and available for your kids when you’re driving them places, using those in between moments for connection.