Lessons From Commuting

 Commuting.

Our family is in a temporary season of "on the road again", clocking nearly 4 hours a day round trip, 5 days a week. As we wait on the Lord to provide us a home to get some of those hours back on a daily basis, I've had to be intentional with exercising gratitude, which never fails to lead me to perspective.

My sweet baby girl is now 3, and most definitely gabbing away like her mother. (according to her father of course!). The quality time that we have together is while we are driving, because before that time in the day I am scrambling to get us all ready and out of the door in time, and when we finally get home for the day, there is very little time left before I need to tuck her in for the night.

So we listen to the Frozen soundtrack, Little Mermaid soundtrack, and a little Pandora Toddler Radio where we sing all the classics and learn new ones. Oh, and I'm not allowed to just listen; I must sing. When I was a young girl, I used to dream of singing professionally for an audience, and now how I love my little audience of one. "Mama, sing!" even if there aren't lyrics, I'm told to make some up.

We have developed a ritual of greeting the sun in the morning. If one has to commute, we have the best commute when it comes to scenery. Driving down the mountains of North Carolina into South Carolina never disappoints, especially in the morning as the sun is "stretching". Once she is done stretching and finally makes her appearance, I burst out in a somewhat operatic voice and sing:

"Goooood morning! Goooood morning! I am the sun and I'm ready to shine on your day! Gooooood moooooorning to you!"

I glance back at my rear view mirror and see her smiling and clapping, as if the best part of her day just took place. But then...then we see a huge pasture absolutely FULL of cows. But most importantly, a pasture with many baby cows as well.

"Look mama! Look at the baby cows, and there's their mama's!"

Then on the way home after a very long day, I get to hear all about what she did at Nana Betty's, in between mouthfuls of her "nack" ( we are working on adding "s" 's to words like these.) and then right as I go to listen to a podcast, or send/read a text message via "talk to text", she says:

"Mama! Mama!" and I say "Yes Moya?" and she replies with "Mama, I miss you."

What could I do with an extra 4 hours a day?

The possibilities are truly endless. I'm sure I could have an extra cup of coffee, or get the dishes done or actually cook a meal that involves chopping and boiling. I could work on laundry, vacuum and sweep up the floor in the kitchen. I could have an extra hour of sleep, send an encouragement card to a friend, work on our budget.

But that isn't what God has in store for me right now. That isn't how He wants to use my time right now.

As sinful human beings who are prone to wanting things; even good things that are  second tier basic needs, like a smaller commute and a home that we can call our own, complete with a dining room table, a bedroom shared with my husband that has an actual door to open and shut, ( and please dear Lord, a dishwasher!)

We are all commuting in some way. We go here and there, accomplishing this and showing up for that, and some of us may not be physically driving but are struggling to keep driving through the dailiness.

And in all of this, God is there.

It may appear that we are just driving, waiting, and simply working to get to the next mile marker, but if we are still; if we are intentional and ask Him to show us what He has for us today, we will be able to rest in His sovereign purpose for our lives. May God give you the grace and ability to see the baby cows in your pasture and greet the sun with a song.

"Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."-Proverbs 16:3