“You da best”

April 14, 2006

By Stephen Rhoades

From the day our three children entered school, I promised Brandon, Erin and Allison I would drive them there every morning. That was a grand idea when Brandon entered kindergarten; the elementary school was three miles from our house. I kept my promise until we moved to a smaller town.

When we arrived, my wife asked, “What are you going to do with your driving promise now that we live a whopping 200 yards from the doors to the school?”

With fearless resolve, I stated, “I am going to drive them.” Every school day for the five years we lived there, off we rode each morning. That practice continues to this day.

I wanted the last words my children heard before entering the school doors to come from Dad. For many years I always said the same thing: “Did you do your homework?” A little late for a remedy, but I knew that “observed behavior changes.” There were few times the answer was “No.”

Recently, the final words have changed. Allie and I drive the five minutes it takes to get to school, and in the process have a few routines that have become habit forming. We can’t leave the driveway without our seat belts buckled. She quotes the crash dummies as the belt clicks around her waist: “Always buckle up, no matter how short the trip. Most accidents happen within three miles of your house.”

We take off, and just as I am dropping her off she slips her backpack over her shoulder, grabs her lunch, climbs out the door and slowly pushes it almost closed. She then peaks her head right up to the crack and says as quickly as she can, “You da best!”

I try to beat her, because the last one to say it wins. I usually pull off the upset when I simply crack the electric window and yell, “You da best,” then push the close button, making me champion until tomorrow.

A few years ago I couldn’t drive Allison to school because I had come down with pneumonia. The couch had become my constant companion. “Stay in bed,” my doctor warned, “or the next stop will be the regional hospital.”

On the first morning I couldn’t make the drive, Allison kissed me good-bye in the family room and walked to the top of the steps. She stepped outside the storm door, got it almost shut, peaked her nose inside the crack and shouted loud enough for me to hear, “You da best!” and off she ran.

That’s not fair! I’m dying! I couldn’t stand it. I crawled off the sofa, dragged myself to the window and threw open the sash. Just before she could flee the confines of our backyard through the big wooden gate, I screamed, “No, you da best!”

I won again!

Now I know that not everyone will agree that my children are the best. But that doesn’t change how I feel about them. In my eyes they are and will always be the best.

Jesus, to the chagrin of His disciples, brought the little ones unto himself and placed his hands on them and “blessed them.” We can learn a lot from that brief Bible lesson. The spoken message has great affect. “You Da Best!”

Stephen Rhoades is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Harrisburg, Pa.