May 21, 2025
Kelly (not her real name) just got her license and was so excited. I asked who had been teaching her to drive. Both of her parents, she replied. Then I asked which was the better driver, her mother or her father. (It’s not a terrible question. The truth’s the truth. And, of course, I wasn’t going to tell them.)
Kelly said her mom is a terrible driver and her dad drives really fast. She said they correct her all the time when she is driving but she is doing exactly what she sees them do. My eyes got big as she spoke. “I’m just copying them!” she announced.
“You didn’t tell them that, did you?” I burst out. She said she hadn’t. Shew!
Think about it: What are you teaching your family in the car?
Kids are sponges, whether they’re learning to drive or not. They listen when we don’t realize it, copying good and bad habits. What are they soaking up when we aren’t paying attention?
In Deuteronomy 5, Moses shared the Ten Commandments with the people of Israel. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 encourages parents to be intentional in teaching children about God. Actually, it doesn’t encourage them but tells them to be intentional.
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” That’s a great starting place.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children…” Of. All. Ages. It doesn’t say to ask them if they want to be impressed.
“Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road…” Today, that would include “as you ride in your car, truck, SUV, or minivan.”
“When you lie down and when you get up…” That’s morning and evening.
“Tie them as symbols on your hands” (bracelets) and “bind them on your foreheads.” Jews of that time wore small boxes tied around their heads that contained Bible verses. These days we can we carry verses other places: pockets, phones, on shirts, etc.
“Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Hang verses in places to see regularly to remind, stir up, and strengthen your soul and others.
That covers sitting, walking, lying down, and standing, wearing verses, carrying them, and posting them. It’s basically ALL. THE. TIME. Teaching our kids as we go throughout the day.
I’m not saying it’s easy. In fact, being a parent, especially a godly parent, can take the pink out of a flamingo. The devil will fight you every single day. Yet, God gives strength to the weary. Isaiah 40:29 and 31 are worth hanging on the cabinet: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”
By watching you, are your kids (of all ages) learning to be positive, to be negative, to have little faith or big faith? (I learned big faith by watching my mom!) Are they seeing you make God a priority? Do they see you take time to read your Bible? To pray? To serve?
I don’t have all the answers, but I know the Guy Who does. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Sure looks carefree on TV but it’s not in real life.
As followers of Christ, with His help, let’s strive to walk and/or drive in such a way as to lead our kids to Him.
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife, newspaper columnist, and the author of Weiner Stew: Inspiring Stories from Appalachia. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
