He had no idea how to do what I asked.
One of my grandsons, along with his family, was visiting from Arkansas to attend the funeral of their other “Pop.”
The weather was hot and sultry. That’s okay when driving around in an air-conditioned vehicle, but not if you’re driving around in a little truck in which the air conditioning doesn’t work. And mine didn’t. I had bought the small 1986 Toyota pickup from a neighbor after her husband died.
Since I had grown up riding in vehicles without air, it didn’t bother me too much, but my grandson…well, that was another story.
When he complained about being hot, I said, “Roll down the window.”
“Roll” proved an interesting concept to him since all he knew how to do was “push.”
“How do you do that?” he asked.
“With that handle,” I replied.
He was intrigued. He had never rolled down a window. That started a ride-long discussion about how vehicles once looked on the inside and how they had changed into what he was accustomed to. I told him how vehicles looked when I was his age, and he listened intently.
I try never to miss an opportunity to teach something of worth to my grandchildren—and to the middle schoolers I teach. And when it fits, I throw in a biblical application with the story.
Timothy had also been taught. Paul reminded him of his faith and how his mother and grandmother had passed it down to him.
God places teachable moments in our life regularly—and it’s not just with children and grandchildren. Teachers have the privilege of influencing many students. Sunday school teachers as well. So do employers, work peers, and coaches. Actually, anyone.
So, what did showing my grandson how to roll down a window teach him? That not everything in life happens with the push of a button. Some things…many things…require effort and forethought. He may not have gotten that lesson then, but I suppose a day will come when he’ll think about it.
Telling others about God’s love remains the most important thing we can teach, but showing others how we can take godly principles and apply them to everyday life also proves essential.
Ask God to send you teachable moments.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author who has been published in numerous publications. He also serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net. He is the author of six books. His most recent book, Don’t Just Live...Really Live, was released in November 2021. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of six. He can be contacted at [email protected].