"Drive Safe, I Love You"
“Drive safe, I love you.”
These words were lovingly scrawled in chalk marker on the corner of the driver side window of a car parked across the street of the coffeeshop. With a simple heart at the end of the phrase, the words conveyed a simple yet meaningful message, and I couldn’t help but smile.
When reflecting on the words, a verse from the first epistle of St. John came to mind,
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
Although a command, “Drive safe,” the request is not controlling, but rather, a demonstration of the author’s love: because “I love you; I wish for your safety and protection.” Indeed, is this not the reason for God’s commandments for us? They are certainly not meant to burden us or constrict our free will. Rather, by following his commandments, God intends for us to experience true freedom in his love.
Furthermore, the message recalls a verse from the Gospel of John, one my mother quoted to me many times as a child, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) It is not just because of the author’s love that the command is kept, but also because of the reciprocal love of the receiver. Just as my mother recited this verse to remind me to keep the fourth commandment thereby demonstrating my love to her, following God’s commandments allows us to show our love of God.
Sometime later, I glanced up at the car from my spot near the coffeeshop window; this time I observed that a man was getting into the driver seat of the car. No doubt the message had been written at home, yet he had chosen not to wipe it off. Rather, the words remained as a reminder of the caring love of another, and I’d like to think that the indulgence of the message on the otherwise rather fancy car, shows his affection and appreciation for the words and their scribe.
Indeed, the simple note of “Drive safe, I love you” on the car window demonstrates the beautiful reciprocity of authentic love.