That was its name. It was gawdy orange with black leather interior. Yes, my first car was an orange 69 Ford Pinto. It did not have power steering or power brakes or a working radio. But it did have a horn that sounded like a tug boat’s. I drove it with pride. sometimes.
I remember the day my dad pulled up in front of the house in my new ride. I had just passed the test and had my license. finally. He had told my sister and I that he had found the perfect little car for us at a family friend’s used car lot. We were ecstatic! What would it be? A little honda, a cute mazda? Maybe a super fun volkswagon?
I’ll never forget the look on my dad’s face when he pulled into the driveway. or my sister’s.
From my parents’ perspective there were good things about a bright orange 69 Ford Pinto. We couldn’t go fast; pedal to the metal and the car was going 45. maybe. We couldn’t hide or sneak around town; no one misses an orange pinto, I promise you. We couldn’t leave the city limits; the car was just not reliable enough. Keep in mind that my home town of Bowling Green, Ohio might have been four square miles.
I remember calling my dad for assistance one day. My muffler had fallen off. I had picked it up from the side of the road and brought it home. Dad reattached it with a hanger and some sort of adhesive. nice. I think we repeated this particular pattern several times.
From my perspective there were terrible things about the car. We couldn’t go fast ; pedal to the metal and the car was going 45. maybe. We couldn’t hide or sneak around town; no one misses an orange pinto, I promise you. We couldn’t leave the city limits; the car was just not reliable enough. Keep in mind that my home town might have been four square miles. hmmmmmm….. sound familiar?
Well, did I learn to drive? Yes. Did I have little fender benders in my parents’ nicer vehicles? No. Did I grow a thick skin because of my friends’ teasing? For sure. Am I stronger now because of it? Absolutely. Can I see now that this was the best little car for me at the time? Yes. Was it hard to understand way back then? You better believe it.
The very things I found detrimental, it turned out they were for my good.
After all this time, I’m still learning this lesson. There are things in my life that I’m not sure I like. Not sin, not moral dilemmas – just situations, stuff. And I look at my Heavenly Father and say, “Why? I do not understand this!” From His perspective there is definite purpose. But my point of view is clouded at best.
It’s in these moments of questions and insecurity that I have to look at Him and say, “Okay. I trust You. I don’t get it. But, I’m okay with it.” In this case, that is all I know to do. If my dad, who loved me so much, did what he knew was best in giving me my first car… how much more is the Heavenly Father going to take care of things?
In Romans 8 :28 (along with many other places in Scripture) He promises that at the heart of his plan His will is for my good:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Thank you Heavenly Father for your constant care and protection. Even when I don’t get it, when I lack understanding, You’ve already planned it all. It’s so good to know you are a loving Father, prepared to give me what is best. Amen.
From Luke 12: “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
(originally written on February 23, 2011.)
daily portion 