MY FIRST CAR

My first car was a slightly used, green, Ford. I don’t think I ever knew what year, or exactly what kind it was. I was just so happy to be getting a car of my own, I don’t even think I asked. I got it from my dad when I was sixteen years old. He and my mom were separated, and he asked me to come to live with him. So I did. He got me a job where he worked, and we got to know each other a little better.

I remember him giving me the keys, along with a speech. I don’t recall what he said, other than something about keeping a check on the oil. I was too excited to pay much attention, and besides, I knew how to drive a car. I had been driving my cousins’ cars for some time. I didn’t think I needed any pointers. It felt so good to have my own car. Now I could go anywhere I wanted, any time I wanted. Freedom at last!

I don’t remember what I said, but I’m sure it wasn’t much more than okay. I wanted to get on the road as soon as possible and get my new adventure started, but I didn’t get far until trouble found me. The oil light came on just a few miles down the road, and that could only mean one thing. The car had to be low on oil. I stopped at the first store I came to. I got a quart of oil and poured it into the engine. I was back on the road in no time, headed to my grandma’s house.

Before I even got to her house, the oil light came on again. So I stopped at another store to get another quart of oil. I was thinking to myself, “I’ve bought an oil drinker.” So, instead of just getting one quart, I bought several, just in case that light came on again when I wasn’t near a store. I put another quart into the engine and took off again. I finally made it to my grandmother’s and visited for a while. Then I was back on the road again.

That light came on several times that day, and I kept pouring oil in and driving, driving, driving. I went to see my cousins, and friends for a while, and I ended up at my other grandmother’s house because she lived close to dad. When I started to leave from there, the car would not start. I tried everything I knew, which wasn’t much, but still, it just wouldn’t start. When the battery was finally drained, and there was no chance of getting it started without help, I walked back to dad’s house and told him the news.

He went and got the car later, and had it running in a couple of days. It turns out that the car wasn’t leaking oil like I thought it was. The problem was the oil light. It would come on sometimes, and stay on until the car was turned off. When it was started back up, it would be off for a while, then come back on later. The car didn’t need any more oil, but I was putting a quart in every time the light came on. Daddy drained the oil out and let me know I had put over a gallon too much in that engine. It had overflowed, and got into the starter, and ruined it. That’s why it wouldn’t start.

Ugghhh! I felt so stupid. My first car and I only got to drive it around for a few hours before I ruined it. I can just hear me now saying to myself, “Why does this always happen to me?” Well, for one thing, I didn’t listen when my dad was trying to tell me about the car, and the oil light. I thought I knew all I needed to know. I found out I didn’t know all I thought I did.

Over the years, I’ve also gotten in trouble several times by not listening to my heavenly Father. How about you? Many of us think we know all we need to know at times, but we need to remember this old phrase, “Father Knows Best.” He has given us clear instructions in his word, the Holy Bible, and he is just a prayer away at all times. He loves us and wants what’s best for us. So, listen closely to what he has to say every day. It will save you a lot of grief later.

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