Surprises

I had a flat tire a few weeks ago. I was 3 blocks from my house. Of course, I was in a hurry. I was in fierce combat with the day’s ‘to do’ list and I was winning! But alas, this was going to slow down my day considerably. Even though this “tragedy” was frustratingly inconvenient, I had all the tools I needed to fix the problem.

When I was 16 years old, my Dad showed me how to change a flat tire. Before getting the keys to the car I was told to go out to the driveway and change the tire on the car. Of course I knew why I was being forced to change a perfectly good tire. And, of course, I rolled my eyes behind his back.

I learned from that annoying exercise that removing lug nuts was difficult but not impossible. I learned that tires are heavier than they look. And that I was plenty strong enough to lift the tire in and out of the trunk. In the safety of my parent’s driveway I learned the skill and developed the confidence needed to change a flat tire on a 1983 Buick. My parents weren’t about to send me out into the world unable to handle such a ‘tragedy.’

Life is full of surprises.

Maybe you have a solid foundation of prayer passed down to you by your family. Maybe your father and mother taught you how to pray in the safety of your childhood. No matter how you learned to pray, I invite you to practice this skill each day. Don’t wait for the ‘blowout.’ Now is the time to connect with your Father. And don’t forget to teach the little children. It’s one of the most important gifts you can give them.

See you Sunday!
Missy