Your cart is currently empty!
Why I’ve Embraced ‘Car Prayers’ Like My Mom Did
Growing up, Sunday mornings in our household were anything but peaceful. With my dad needing to be at church early for meetings, the responsibility of getting all six of us kids ready fell squarely on my mom’s shoulders. We would wake up slowly, often after multiple reminders. One of my sisters would inevitably cry about breakfast, while another would be in a panic over finding their shoes, which had mysteriously vanished. You can imagine the chaos—screaming, searching, and the usual sibling disputes over mirror space.
“Put on a slip!” my mom would shout, her voice rising as she tried to manage the morning frenzy. And heaven forbid someone wanted to wear a sweater vest instead of a tie; that was a sure way to ignite her frustration. By the time we finally squeezed into the family van, whether it was the old Dodge Caravan or the Chevy Suburban, going to church felt like the last thing we wanted to do. We were grumpy, uncomfortable, and likely dreading any consequences awaiting us after services. My mom would continue her tirade about being late until the car door slammed shut. Then, almost like a switch had flipped, she transformed.
Leaning forward, she’d rest her arms on the steering wheel, close her eyes, and shake her head slightly to shake off the morning’s chaos. And then she’d pray. The change was so sudden that it often left me feeling perplexed. How could she go from yelling to solemn prayer in an instant? To me, it felt insincere, as if she was putting on a show. Afterward, we were often left in silence or subjected to her lectures, which didn’t help our mood either.
Yet, one invaluable lesson I took from those mornings was my mother’s unwavering faith. She truly believed and practiced her faith every single day, not just on Sundays or when others were watching. Yes, she could be a bit much in the mornings, but regardless of the chaos, she always made sure to send us off into the world with a prayer. As a teenager, I found this ritual annoying, but in hindsight, it instilled a sense of faith in me.
Now that I’m a mom myself, my relationship with prayer has evolved significantly. I find myself praying more now than I ever did in my first 28 years of life. Most of my prayers are quick, silent moments of reflection while trying to figure out what my sons need. I turn to God, whom I trust knows these boys better than I do, asking for insights into their needs and potential. In those sleepless nights, I would pray with all my heart, believing that any loving God would hear my pleas for rest.
Once my sons began spending time away from me, especially when they started school, I would pray for their happiness, safety, and the love they needed from others. And then, as soon as my oldest started preschool, we began our own car prayer ritual. Before pulling out of the driveway, we’d buckle up, turn off the radio, and I’d pray for our day ahead. My husband can be a little grumpy about the morning routine, but when our son requests a prayer, it brings out a softer side of him. Plus, the kids are quick to remind him if he tries to skip it!
In the end, I’m grateful for those car prayers from my childhood. It’s not a tradition I expected to carry on, but it has its own beauty and practicality. Through all my shortcomings as a parent, I hope my kids see that I genuinely want the best for them and that I’m not afraid to seek help from a higher power.
If you’re curious about other insightful topics related to family and parenting, you can check out this post on home insemination kits to learn more about the journey to parenthood. Additionally, for those interested in understanding more about fertility, the CDC is an excellent resource for finding relevant information.
Summary
This article reflects on the author’s childhood experiences of chaotic Sunday mornings, highlighting the significance of her mother’s car prayers. Now a parent, she embraces this tradition, finding strength and purpose in prayer as she navigates motherhood.