The one thing that I have noticed though that makes these
carts different from all others is control. I think that many times my kids
think they are having some control over where the cart goes. Hayden is old
enough to where he has pretended that he is driving a police car racing to help
someone in need and I may or may not have helped by pushing it really fast (in
open areas so as not to wipe out that family of 6 that opted out of the fun
cart experience)and making siren noises. Emerie just loves to drive. My sweet
in-charge, I AM the boss baby girl loves to drive and rarely takes her hands
off the wheel except to give her brother a hug or tries to reach for something
or decides to try to stand or…well you get the idea.
One thing is true for both of them…control. They both like
to feel like they are in control and driving the fire engine cart. I got
to thinking about that this morning. Don’t we all like to drive/be in control?
Even the most timid of us like to be in control of something or everything. How
about this...have you ever noticed that there is only one steering wheel in a
car? Just as there is typically one pastor who is ultimately responsible for leading
a church, there is one steering wheel in a car. Just imagine if we had more
than one in a non-drivers ed type of car. We would be driving in circles!
But beyond that I was thinking about that crazy fun cart and
how I am just like my kids in that cart or at least I should be! I want to drive or at least think that I am
and have some control over where I am going and what I am doing but the reality
is….I am in the cart (or at least I need to be). When my kids are in the cart,
they are safe, I am able to keep them under my care and protect them from many
foes that lie within your fill- in- the- blank- big box store. I am able to
decide where they need to go and whether or not this trip includes a trip past
the bakery department for their free cookie. They can’t get out without my
help. They often can’t reach for things that they may want to hold or inspect
from the shelves unless I allow it.
Another benefit of being in the cart is the guidance and
direction that comes from it. My kids don’t have to think about where the cart
is going; they can just enjoy the ride. I don’t think that either of them has
any idea that one should be required to have a CDL endorsement on their license
in order to drive one. They just simply…ready for this? They trust the driver!
WOW!
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not always so pleasant
especially for Emerie who would rather be out exploring or Hayden who would
much rather be helping me by grabbing things from the shelves. How often do we
fuss to get out of the cart or get out of the cart only to realize that we were
safer inside? That we simply need to just trust the “driver, “and our needs
will be met and we will be safe. I admit it is very hard at times to stay
inside of the cart and not get out to go after what I think I need. Sometimes I
even get mad at the cart and the condition of it and think that there must be a
better one out there somewhere and yet there isn’t.
I don’t know that I will ever love the literal “fun carts”
like my kids do, but you know what? I LOVE the joy and excitement that I get
the privilege, as their mom, to witness. It ALMOST makes it worth it to scour
the parking lot and entry ways to find one and wipe it down with half a bottle
of hand sanitizer and a package of baby wipes. Remember…stay in the cart, sit
down, leave your seatbelt on but most importantly….trust the driver because He
loves you with an almighty love!