When I first started driving, almost thirty years ago now, my dad used to drive me crazy almost every time I would take the car out.  He would always call after me as I walked, or in most cases, ran out the door…”watch those left turns!”  I swear to you this happened almost every time! He did that because he understood how dangerous a left turn could be, especially where I grew up in Phoenix. It drove me nuts that he would remind me of that at every opportunity.  I was laughing about this with a friend today because I often find myself in a position of reminding my friends and the kids I work with to watch their left turns.  My dad didn’t tell me not to make those turns, he just was telling me to be cautious, to not act impulsively, to think about the route I was taking.  He wanted me to make a left turn at a traffic light so I might minimize some risk. He trusted me yet he loved me enough to remind me.  Sometimes I feel like I am harping on my loved ones by reminding them to be wise, cautious in their time spent with members of the opposite sex, telling them to think about their route and avoid the impulsive moments that can get us into a wreck. To this day that loving crazy dad still tells me to watch my left turns.  I love that. I promise you, I used to hear his voice in my head as I would approach one of those turns….I still wait for that extra car instead of risking something I can’t calculate as well….I still consider if I am tired or alert, worn out or aware.  He taught me to drive.  He taught me well.  To this day, I have never had an accident as a result of one of those turns.  I still hear the things he helped me learn.  I am thankful.  I don’t mean to harp on my friends.  I respond out of a love that I hope communicates this, “I trust you, go practice, but be careful and watch those potentially dangerous places that distract us. Be alert.  Don’t practice when you are too tired or your guard is down. Pray to the one who wants to teach you and remind you. Hear his voice.  Sometime he might use mine to remind you.  But please, just watch those left turns! I love you so much!”  Thankful for the opportunity to get to be in that place with my friends.  I never take it for granted.  I never will!