singing in the Nova

When I was little, my Grandma had a gold Nova with no airconditioning. She had to turn the steering wheel hard with no power steering. And those 1970's black vinyl seats were hot! I was six when Grandma took me school shopping for the first grade, and we rode in the Nova. I remember it vividly, like I remember the clothes she bought for me. A big girl shirt with little buttons and puffy sleeves and a cute plaid skirt to match. We had so much fun that day; and I felt like I was very grown up,  very loved. Later that year, very unexpectedly, she went to be with the Lord. Looking back, I know that day was a gift. I can even hear us singing together, "He's got the whole world in his hands."

Recently, I heard a modern worship song that reminded me of the Nova ride. "The whole world in his hands," we sang with great emotion, an old idea to match the new tune. I love new songs and old ones, new friends and old memories. And I relish the fact that through the last 39 years since our shopping day, God has remained faithful. Indeed he has kept the whole world in his hands! Times may change, and people we love may go on to heaven to wait for us there, but their contribution to our lives is vast. The truths from then continue to be true today. And God is still just as much holding the world together now as he was then, when we sang in the Nova.  

I left my boy on top of a mountain.

We took our boy to college and we left him there. As parents, we are reminded that we have not walked this way before. It is an emotional surprise. Lots of excitement, coupled with a little grief, an era ended and a new road ahead for all of us.

Have I done enough, I asked myself? Have I taught and loved enough? Have our family values been instilled in this child, now a man? Will he call? Will he ever need me again?

As our truck climbed the mountain, I rambled my last ditch effort of instruction, "Be careful driving on this mountain. It is dangerous, you know! And those wild kids, those other drivers..." I was politely interrupted, "Mom, your speeches ring continuously in my ears."

I'm sure he was saying "be quiet" in a nice way, but somehow I felt comforted and relieved that not all of my speeches had gone unheard. He would be ok.

More than any speech, I remembered that God had directed Taylor's choices, that we all had asked God to make his will so clear that we could not miss it. And He had.

Alas, I am not the only parent giving advice. Proverbs 4 says, "Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life...My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words...Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

I am forever thankful that our family loves so much that it hurts. May we always love big, and may the words of wisdom "continually ring in our ears."