What is the Value of Traveling as a Family?
Whether embarking on a two week overseas vacation or running errands around town, traveling together as a family has great value. Keep reading to see how Seth shows us to make that time valuable…and simple.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them…And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. – Luke 24:15, 27
Road trips seem to pit my flesh against the indwelling Spirit every time. For much of my life I even had a theme verse for my aspired driving: 2 Kings 9:20, ‘The lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.”’
I was a man who was concerned about one thing: getting to where I needed to be now, on-time and faster than anyone else. Enter in the Spirit of God by way of my wife. Shortly after marrying I realized I had my priorities all wrong. I had lived more concerned about the destination than the souls traveling with me be it to school, church, or an extended vacation.
How can we make time traveling as a family as valuable as possible?
- Drop “the race” mentality. What’s the point of getting somewhere “fast” or “on time” if we are in conflict with the people travelling with us? If we’re on vacation, let’s start the vacation when we leave, not when we arrive. Even when we’re driving around town together we can listen to something.[1] God’s command in Deut 6:7 is not to get where we are going in a timely manner, but to teach our kids “when you walk by the way.”
- Take advantage of a captive audience. Pray in the car. Talk about a family who needs prayer and pray for them at that moment (I always smile at who my toddlers want to pray for). Discuss what God has been teaching each member of the family. Ask good follow up questions. Play games and ask silly questions (“Would you rather eat pizza out of a trash can at a theme park or lick the bottom of your sibling’s foot?”). It doesn’t always have to be “super spiritual” to build into your family.
God graciously gives us opportunities to connect if only we will capture these opportunities He gives us!
Camper Corner:
Are you a fan of talking with your parents while riding in the car together? What are some ways you like to connect to the family in the car? What is your favorite thing to do on a big road trip?
[1] I still remember when I was in High School, my mom chose to drive me to school my freshman year (even though there was a bus I could ride, this meant she would have to wake up early to work before she took me, and it added an extra 40 minutes of car time to her day). On the drive we would listen to the Bible on CD and we started in the beginning with Genesis. This was my introduction to the Old Testament. It played a profound role in my life and on my view of scripture.
