We have this newfangled console in our gas-guzzler that lists the artist and the name of the song that’s playing on the radio. Some days I want to smash it with a sledgehammer. There are some among us who insist on knowing exactly what that screen says every.single.time. And if no one answers, he just keeps asking until he gets an answer.
I know. First world problems, right? I like calm, peaceful, introspective rides in the car. What can I say? It’s in my genes. There’s nothing more enjoyable than a silent car ride.
But God is determined to use that gas-guzzler for my personal sanctification. Not only did he give me three boys who are only silent when they’re unconscious, but he gave me three boys who find great joy in music. We talk about the songs, make up alternate lyrics, mock the unusual band names…protest loudly when our least favorite song pops up.
Even though it adds to the chaos and the noise during carpool, I’ve had some of my most enjoyable conversations with the boys over a song on the radio. And even better, I hear their sweet little voices still humming those tunes as they tinker with their Legos or hang out around the house.
“It’s Five Minute Friday. Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s write in shades of real and brave and unscripted.
Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not.” -Lisa Jo Baker
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Heidi, I love your post. I don’t stuggle with your issues in a car because I am usually alone and therefore am the one in charge but your post reminded me of when I was a child and travelling with my sister and parents. I sat behind my dad and my sister sat behind my mom. I don’t know why it is just the way it worked out and to a certain extent when we get in a car now I drive she sits in the passenger side. Anyway, when we were younger we travelled a lot and as I grew older there was the usual argument about music as I wanted “my music” which my parents detested. They usually won but the times are remember are when the radio would be turned off usually through aggravation and my sister and I would start to sing songs we knew. We could do the favourite hymns of the church but our family favourite by far was the soundtrack from The Sound of Music. We would start at the beginning and work our way through the whole musical. We would stop now and then and remember the first time we saw the movie together (this was the 1960’s) and our favourite scene which would send us off on another song. My sister in now a grandmother, my mom is 88, I am 62 and my dad has been in heaven for 9 years and yet I still know the words to all the songs and periodically my sister and I will burst into song just to drive her two grown children crazy and watch them roll their eyes and mutter something about old people should go to a home. 🙂 It always brings laughter. Thanks for reminding me.