Forget the former things; do not dwell on
the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive
it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
~ Isaiah 43:18-19
Tears unexpectedly sprung to my eyes as I
watched the old, gold Bronco being pulled out of our driveway. Jacob, our 17
year-old son, had just sold his pride and joy so he could buy a more practical
vehicle. It was a wise decision, but I know it wrenched his heart as his eyes
followed it being hauled behind the truck of its new owner, on its way to Florida.
We’d purchased the 1973 Ford Bronco when
Jacob was 15. It wasn’t in great shape, but it ran and that’s what was
important at the time. He spent as much time as possible working on that truck,
envisioning its potential. My husband, John, worked with him many a Saturday to
bring “Bronkie”, as Jacob called it, back to its former glory. And, after three
years of pouring his heart and soul (and cash!) into this vehicle, he’d nearly
done it.
In case I’ve never mentioned it before,
Jacob is a 100% bon-a-fide redneck, rivaling any of the Duck Dynasty guys, and
Bronkie helped to cement his image. You couldn’t miss seeing him when he drove
around town, sun glinting off of that unusual color of gold. His truck was unique.
But when school rolled around this year, Jacob’s
love affair with Bronkie began to fade. Since he’d elected to go to the career
center this year, he had an additional seven or eight miles to drive each day, which included a trip down the interstate
complete with morning traffic.
Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever had the
privilege of riding in an old Bronco, but suffice it to say it’s not a luxury
ride. The few times he coaxed me into riding with him I found that I could
bounce higher than I thought possible, hoping against hope that a case of
whiplash wasn’t in my future. And when I mercifully unfolded myself from the
backseat, I felt like I was taking my life in my hands when I jumped from the cab.
So, the morning commute wasn’t what it
used to be for Jacob and he knew it was time for him and Bronkie to part ways.
As much as he loved that old truck, the rough ride, low (7 miles to the
gallon!) gas mileage and leaky roof confirmed his decision.
Now
Jacob’s driving a used, white Ford F-150 truck with a cab and a half and extremely better gas mileage. I can get in and out much easier and the ride is
considerably smoother, which is certainly appreciated by this mother. It may be
more difficult to spot him in a crowd, but he’s more comfortable and doesn’t
get wet when it rains. Having Bronkie helped Jacob learn a lot about how to
rebuild vehicles, and he’s putting that knowledge to good use as he’s pursuing
an education in automotive technology. But now it’s time to move on.
I must say, I’m proud of the wisdom Jacob
showed when he gave up his beloved Bronco and replaced it with a dependable vehicle.
It reveals his maturity, understanding we can’t always keep what we want in
order to obtain what we need. Sometimes hard decisions must be made.
So many times in life, change seems too
difficult to confront. It’s much easier to sit in our comfort zone surrounded
by the things, or people, we’re most familiar with. It’s scary to let go. But,
if we’re willing to change and grow, we’ll eventually discover God’s best for
us. We may think having a Bronco to drive around for fun is our perfect
vehicle. However, God knows we’re going to need an F-150 to get us to the destination
of His calling.
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