Two Different Minivans

I was smiling as I drove down the road.
I was smiling and remembering.
I was watching the minivan in front of me and it brought me back many years.
I was smiling because I imagined what people behind us must have been thinking.

The car in front of me had quite a few children in the back.
The mother was driving.
It was one of those spring days when you drive with the windows down.
You hear bits and pieces of other people’s music choices as you drive by.

I couldn’t hear the music that was being played in the car in front of me.
However, I knew that music was playing because of all the activity in the car.
I saw little hands go up and down in syncopation.
I saw little heads keeping the beat from side to side.

Whatever music was playing, the children were having so much fun.
I could see that the mother was also singing along.
It wasn’t just the little arms were going up and down, there was something else.
The minivan was actually swaying.

When I used to drive with all five of my children, our minivan would do the same thing.
If a song was being played that they especially liked, the singing and dancing began.
Everyone was safely buckled in but anything they could possibly move, moved!
With the movement came the volume as they sang along; it was music to my ears.

This group in the minivan looked a lot like we used to look.
I wanted to tell the mother that her children will always remember their fun car rides.
They will always remember the hand motions and the songs that got them moving.
They will always remember the silliness and the laughter as they drove from place to place.

The minivan turned and I continued on.
Bittersweet nostalgia.
Memories being made.
Something that could have been mundane was made to be a little more fun.

Not too far down the road, I was behind another minivan.
I was waiting behind this minivan as we were each in a turning lane.
I saw the mother turn around and try to grab something behind her.
I saw her turn back to see if the light was green and then turn back to what needed attention.

She was grabbing and reaching with no success.
The light turned green.
She was still dealing with whatever demanded her attention.
I didn’t want to use my car horn since she looked as if she was struggling.

We missed the light.
We waited for all other directions of traffic to go through the intersection again.
As they proceeded across the busy road, she continue to grab and reach.
I saw little arms flailing in protest; the mother and child were each holding their ground.

No music.
No little arms go up and down in syncopation.
No little heads bobbing side to side.
No minivan swaying to the beat.

I felt compassion for this mother.
She was on a road where she could not pull over safely.
She was in a turning lane and needed to continue for the sake of those behind her.
Something was being dealt with; the occupants of this minivan were not happy.

Swaying or grabbing and reaching.
Two different minivans; two very different scenarios.
We can all relate.
We all have had days like each of these mothers.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

That is the way life is.
We have days when we are swaying to the beat of the music.
We have days when we spend our time grabbing and reaching.
The situation affects our attitude and can rob us of our joy.

Sometimes a child all buckled up in a car seat is just not happy.
It doesn’t matter what music is playing.
It doesn’t matter what favorite toy came along for the ride.
An irritable mood seems to come over them without warning.

It is definitely a grab and reach type day.
We have all been there.
Just when we get discouraged, when we decide we are never going out again, it changes.
The mood is lifted, the minivan sways, the songs are sung.

Same mother.
Same children.
Same minivan.
Different mood.

Except we all tend to forget one thing.
Despite the day, or the mood, or the circumstance, we have the joy of the Lord.
That joy, that deep-down joy, is ours even when we don’t feel joyful.
Even in the grabbing and reaching, the joy of the Lord is our strength.

The joy of the Lord is not something you feel as much as it is something you have.
The joy is there despite what we feel.
The joy is there despite what is happening around us.
The joy is there and we are just fine.

We really are.
Even on the worst days, we are fine.
Even when we grab and reach unsuccessfully, the joy is still there.
Even when it shouldn’t be, the joy never leaves us.

It is the joy of the LORD.
It is not a joy that we can muster up ourselves.
If it was our responsibility to muster it up, that joy would be nonexistent.
That joy has to come from someplace outside ourselves.

God provides the joy.
God allows the circumstances.
God’s joy can be found in the obvious places and in the not so obvious scenarios.
God’s joy enables us to press on with a smile and even a song in our heart.

How are you feeling today?
Is it a swaying to the music kind of day?
Is it a grabbing and reaching kind of day?
No matter the type of day, the joy of the Lord is still there.

Go ahead.
Sing.
Make the minivan sway.
Lift your arms and bob your head to the music.

You are strong in His joy.

2 responses to “Two Different Minivans”

1. Thanks for this message today. I had a day that did not go as planned and I was trying not so successfully to take it in stride. This gave me the reminder that we can be joyful without “feeling” joyful. I will not be so hard on myself and let it be. Again, thanks for the insight into Him!

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   • Pat,
     I am delighted that this post blessed you. So often, we follow our feelings instead of what we know to be true! I need this reminder as well.
     Gina

     Reply