Devotion ~ Teaching a Son to Drive

Last month, I issued a challenge to all those who read my post:

Set yourself a goal to avoid grumbling for one 24-hour period. No complaints at all. Not against your partner, your friends, your enemies, your boss, your co-workers, corrupt politicians, and certainly not against God. See how long you last. Then embark on another 24-hour stint. Do report back here how you're getting on. 

So let's hear from you. How did you get on? 

We really can learn from one another. Some lessons are painful. Some are fun. And some take us down memory lane.

Pexel.com

Today I read a post by one of my fellow writers on teaching her son to drive. It was hilarious. (How come things as serious and scary as this become funny when we look back?)

Her post brought to my mind one of the scariest moments I ever experienced out of all the scary moments when my kids were learning to drive.

Son 1 had just got his driver's licence. He inherited an old, but road-worthy, car from his brother-in-law. He gave permission to Son 2 to practice driving his car when either my husband or I were available to accompany him.

This was our third kid to learn to drive. The other two were reasonable safe on the road by this time, so we faced the next weeks with some dread but full of confidence that we would survive.

Stopping on a hill

One day Son 2 and I went out for a drive. He knew it all in theory. The time had come for him to practice stopping and starting on a hill. I chose a nice steep hill in a quiet part of town.

Stop went well. Gears grinding and accelerator revving, the car started to jerk forward. Then horrors! Another car pulled up behind us. Oh, please go past. But no. He was a patient kind of guy and was quite content to wait for the learner driver in front of him.

Knuckles white. Tight grip on steering wheel. Mom amazingly quiet. (I think I was trying to breathe at the time) when . . . he sat back with the steering wheel in his hands.

Seems Son 1 had been doing some renovations to the car and for reasons I choose to forget, he undid all the screws on the steering wheel and didn't replace them. ("Mom, as long as you don't pull on it, there's no problem!")

After some considerable amount of panic from both driver and mother, the wheel was shoved back in place. I don't even remember who drove, but we got home safely, and I made myself a strong cup of tea. (Fortunately, I don't drink alcohol! I'd have emptied a bottle.)

Change of plans

For some reason, that was the last time I took him out in that car. Next day, he signed up with a driving school and used their car. I was relatively certain their steering wheels were not the removable kind.

Today, all three are experienced and good drivers. And I look back on those times with pride. Or relief. Or amazement.

We survived! And so did the learners!

So what does this have to do with writing?

Or a devotion?

If you've ever had the steering wheel come off in your hands (or your son's!) you'll be able to answer me. Trust me. There's nothing like a loose steering wheel to jack up your prayer life!

As we drive along life's rocky roads, especially when we face steep hills, we need to have a good grip on our Faith steering wheel. As long as we hold on, the Lord will remain in control. What's better still, He will steer us in the right direction and use His built-in G.P.S.

And the wheel won't come off in our hands.

Over to you:

What was the worst memory you have of teaching a kid to drive?

And how did you get on with last month's challenge?

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast of South Africa with her husband, Rob. She has recently embarked on a series of eBooks titled, Out of the Shadow.

Available now: Naomi, Beloved Mother-in-Law;  Eve, Mother of All; Miriam Part 1, Devoted Sister

Please visit Shirley through ShirleyCorder.com, where she encourages writers, or at  RiseAndSoar.com, where she encourages those in the cancer valley. 

You can also meet with her on Twitter or FaceBook.

Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations for those facing cancer.