A Helpful Lesson from the High School Parking Lot

Inside: We have to drive defensively, but we can’t live defensively. Not if we want to have a sweet influence in a culture where angst and outrage are so prevalent. ~

It’s been nearly a decade since my older daughter started driving, but there are some things a mother does not forget.

For example, one of the fun aspects of parenting a newly independent driver is getting texts like this in the morning: “Got to school, almost ran over a girl who wasn’t watching where she was going but we both lived.”

This is how they learn, right? Driving alone, near-misses, maybe even some actual bumps and scrapes here and there. Eventually—hopefully—defensive driving becomes second nature.

Constant Vigilance

Especially in the parking lot and on the access roads around the school, where AirPod-wearing high-school students regularly cross in front of you without looking up. Where you never know when one of the middle-schoolers from the building next door is going to fall off his bike onto the road or push his friend off the sidewalk right into your vehicle.

As I told Lilly many times when she first started driving herself to school, you have to be on your guard constantly. You have to assume that anyone who comes into your line of sight is going to step right in front of you without warning. You have to be prepared for the person in the car in front you to slam on his or her brakes for no apparent reason.

In other words, to prevent the worst-case scenario in the high school parking lot, you have to learn to expect it.

More Importantly …

But there’s also something else you have to remember—maybe the most important thing of all. You can’t take anything the pedestrians or other drivers do personally.

People can be careless, but they can also make honest mistakes. (Trust me, I’ve made a few myself.) Some are flat-out jerks, but others are just having a bad day.

The problem is, we often don’t know which scenario we’re dealing with—in crowded parking lots as well as online and in other areas of our daily lives.

Let it Go

It’s easy to judge the motivations of people who do things we don’t like or inconvenience us in some way. But there’s a line between sticking up for yourself (and others) when it’s necessary and being offended at everything, all the time.

This is sort of risky, because sometimes people actually mean to hurt us. We have to be wise, especially when we are looking out for the wellbeing of people for whom we are responsible.

Most times, though, I think the best response is to smile and let it go.

We have to drive defensively, but we can’t live defensively. Not if we want to have a godly influence in a culture where angst and outrage are so prevalent.

Parking Lot Grace

This reminds me of a time I was walking to my car at Wal-Mart and a lady almost backed her vehicle right into me and my shopping cart. She obviously should have been paying more attention, but she was so apologetic I almost felt sorry for her.

Rather than get annoyed or upset, I simply smiled and told her not to worry about it. Later, I thought of a fitting way to describe what I had offered her—and what has been extended to me more times than I care to remember.

I call it parking lot grace. And perhaps you’ll agree that its application reaches well beyond the Wal-Mart and high-school parking lots.

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Have you ever been the giver or recipient of parking-lot grace? Either in an actual parking lot or some other setting? Please share in the comments.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.