The Gift of Driving

Do you remember when you first got your driver's license? What a great feeling of freedom.

You felt like you could go anywhere and do anything. That life was yours for the taking.

Recently, as I was stricken with a broken elbow, I was sidelined from the driver's seat and boy was that a bummer. I had to be driven everywhere and I found that to be very limiting. I couldn't just run an errand or visit a friend at a moment's notice. Every trip had to to planned with an available driver, either my husband or a family friend. I felt sort of trapped and I didn't like it. I mean, this is America, I should be able to go where I want, when I want. Having this temporary inconvenience really bothered me, and I began to realize how I took the ability to drive for granted. That doesn't necessarily mean that I love all aspects of driving, like being stuck in traffic and having to go to the bathroom or driving around in circles looking for a parking place or even driving in a blizzard.

With those exclusions, driving remains a gift that I will appreciate more fully since I finally got the OK from my doctor to once again, turn on the ignition and blast my "Jesus music" as I sing to the heavens and drive to my destinations! However, the next time I'm stuck in traffic, rather than letting my frustrations fester, I will offer a prayer for those people who are denied this gift of freedom for medical, monetary or aging reasons.