Do you remember your first real car? Not the one that your dad passed down to you. Not the one that went from family member to family member and you were the third recipient. I mean the first car that is in your name.

I remember being 22 and was just graduating from college. I had saved my money after being paid each week for driving the tractor and herding cattle with horses in my home town. Yes, I was a farmer and a cowboy and still have roots back in eastern Colorado. I went into the Chevrolet Dealership in Flagler Colorado to order my car. In 1971, you had to go in and order your car rather than picking one out in the car lot. There was no such thing as car lots in the smaller towns. It took 6 weeks from the time you ordered your car until you got the call and drove over to the dealership with your dad to pick up your prized possession. The excitement driving to see my car for the first time was electric. It screamed independence. Mine. All mine. It seemed like forever to sign the necessary papers before the keys were handed over. I remember where my car was sitting and the pushing the key into the ignition was the best thing ever.

Well, I had the privilege of experiencing the same thing that my dad experienced 44 years ago with me. Here is Carter standing by his first car, all his own.

Look at that smile. If he could hug it he would. It’s black like his dads. I know it is a Ford which for the most part I have stayed away from after a bad experience with an Expedition. But he wanted an F-150 and he got an F-150. It took most of the day to check out the truck, secure the title of the Avalanche he was driving, and filling out the necessary loan documents. But here he is in our driveway after he drove home to drop me off. His excitement couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about talking about all the things inside his truck.

There are times in life when it’s healthy to soak up the moment and enjoy the experience. Today was one of those days. Samuel in the Old Testament was a judge of Israel and wrote in his second book about the importance of seizing the moment. He said that life is like water that is spilled out on the ground and cannot be gathered up again (II Sam14:14). I believe that the writer wanted us to seize every day and every moment in our lives and not allow them to spill out without experiencing all that God wants us to experience.

On this journey today, I had the privilege of being with my son in all of his joy and excitement in getting his first truck. I thank God for the honor of being there.