My wife and I gave our 16 year old daughter a car the other night. Becca had been sharing a car with her grandmother and we thought eventually that would get really complicated so we bit the bullet and presented her with a 2001 Pontiac. I don't like to give any big gift without some drama so this is what I did. I had her drive her grandmother's car to Tha Porch (the high school ministry). Karen and I drove the Pontiac up to church and then moved Nanna's car. Becca came out of Tha Porch and thought the car had been stolen so she called us. We told her to come to the front of the church so I could have a talk with her. I told her as we walked toward the car that Nanna didn't want her to drive her car anymore. I asked her what she did to get this kind of reaction from her grandmother. Becca was rocked. She finally said," I moved the tilt steering wheel. Would that have done it?" Sometimes it is pitiful how easily my kids are taken it but there is a certain sweetness to it. Finally, I said to her,"ok, Mom has to drive Nana's car home so why don't you drive this one" and I handed her the keys and pointed her to the Pontiac. She hesitated, looked at me, looked at the car, looked back at me, and then finally started yelling and jumping and overall responding just the way I hoped a 16 year old would respond to her first car. It was great. I like the curve. I liked bringing it low before it went crazy high. It is like the gospel. Joe, you are a sinner, really, serously, a sinner and it is really, really bad. Then God says, " So, since you are a sinner and in desperate trouble, why don't you take this" and God points me to the cross. Gratitude is increased when the really good news follows really bad news. So, let your heart, like mine, be like a 16 year old. Let us leap and shout and search the face of God with wonder and expectation as it slowly dawns on us how much our Father loves us. I want to love God with the same ferocity that my Becca loved me when she wrapped he arms around me in front of a white Pontiac and said," Daddy, I love you".
Thursday, September 13, 2007
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3 comments:
That. Is. Hilarious!
You and my father are cut from the same cloth! With all that we teach our children, I rejoice to see humor and giddy celebration taught, too. Well done!
WOW- our soon to be 16 year old is getting a picture of an old 1980 station wagon that I shared with my brother and sisters. Don't worry, I'll wrap it up with a red bow. I think I'll get a cute smile but probably not the jumping and hugging:)
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