Holiday Vacation Trips

“The greatest driving tip I ever received” by Gilbert Purtee

Holidays were always fun when I was growing up. We have a wonderful, extended family and we always had someplace we could go for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holiday that had lots of food to eat.

The hustle and bustle of getting ready for the trip was always exciting. Dad would be carrying things to the car while mom made sandwiches, filled the cooler with ice and packed supplies. In-between trips to the car, dad would check the oil, water and tires much like a pilot would do before a cross Atlantic flight. We loved to take trips in the car so the ritual of preparation seemed to be planned and well rehearsed.

What do I recall the most clearly about our trips? Two things stand out in my memory. It was not the map on moms lap. It was not the driving hat that dad wore to keep the wind from blowing hair into his eyes. It was not the fun games that mom played with us kids.

The first thing, as soon as we all got into the car, with the engine running and we were all warm, settled and ready to go, dad would look at mom and say, “Ready?” Mom would smile real big and say, “Ready, daddy” and they would hold hands, close their eyes and dad would pray.

“Lord, thank You. Thank you for giving us this chance to go see our family. Keep us safe. Help me to drive and keep me alert. In Jesus name, Amen,” and then we would go. That was the first thing I remember.

The second is even better. As we would turn the last corner before reaching our destination, I would hear my daddy say, “Thank you Lord. We made it safe again. Bless our time while we are here. In Jesus name…”

As a truck driver, this was the greatest driving lesson taught to me by my father. In all the years that I knew my father and his driving a car, I do not recall hearing about my father ever having an accident. That was no accident. He had help.

I have carried this all through my driving career. As I leave the shipper, I thank God for my job. I ask Him to protect me, again, just like He has the last 650,000 miles and I ask Him to keep me awake and alert. When I pull into the gate of the receiver, I do the same thing and thank God for another safe trip. See, just like my father, I have a perfect record too. That is no accident either. I have help.

God; don’t leave home without Him.

Luke 11:1
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.