A Prayer For Learning To Drive

A Prayer for Learning to Drive

O God, we entrust our new driver to You.

How could it be

That Matchbox cars and Power Wheels

Have given way

To driver’s ed certificates

And a shiny hunk of metal?

O God, parenting is the gradual undoing,

And we have to let them go

To dream their own dreams

And take on their own adventures.

But in this moment,

It feels like too much

To watch them drive away.

We knew these

Mile markers of independence were coming,

And still they’re a lot to behold.

For so long, we have tried to keep

Our sons and daughters safe.

We have tried to protect them.

But God, we know our kids

Are really Yours,

And we ask You to watch over them

As their world expands a little more.

Thank You for the privilege

Our children have to learn to drive.

May they steward this honor

And responsibility well.

And Lord, we know that all young drivers

Are not equal on the road.

We lament the ways

Parents of Black and Brown children

Must have different conversations

About how to travel and how to drive.

Be near to all who

Rend their hearts

As they buckle their seat belts.

Bless the road, Lord,

That will bring our children home

To a family that loves them,

To a family that is so proud of them,

To a family that will never tire

Of waiting up

To welcome them

Back into our arms,

Back into our home.

Deuteronomy 31:8