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