Undaunted Joy #151 Guest Post: Mini Martinez
A Prayer of Thanks for LF Radio on Car Rides to School
Every once in a while, I like to feature a guest post. It is good to look at joy from a different view than just mine.
This week Undaunted Joy features writer and my coaching client, Mini Martinez! Mini became my coaching client earlier this year. This joyous piece came out of our close read of Brian Doyle’s work and being in conversation with him as we find our own small moments to be thankful for! I love how her essay starts sleepily. She could have stayed in a sleepy, grumpy state of mind, but she moves into a different state of mind: one of worship and gratitude. Mini is able to convey this with her vivid language moving the action forward.
Let us all celebrate Mini’s first published piece and a beautiful life to be thankful for.
***
A Prayer of Thanks for LF Radio on Car Rides to School
The daily 6:09 A.M. alarm sounds only to be snoozed not once, but twice. My daughter asks me if I am driving her and my son to school today. I sleepily shake my head yes. It takes me a moment to pry myself out of bed and exert just enough effort to look presentable in a high school carline. I stumble down three flights of stairs, fumble my way through the garage and finally extend my right leg into my not-so-cool-by-highschooler-standards minivan. Plop! The rest of my body has followed suit and I am now in the captain’s chair ready to drive my children to their academic destination.
My right hand reaches for the digital dashboard and my squinted eyes decipher the number four on the preset stations. I select LF Radio, The JOY FM, with full confidence that my drab day will be infused with thumb-tapping, bass-thumping, shoulder-shimmying positive hits and hip-hop. Instantly, my mood is lifted. My posture is straighter. My vision is clearer. I am singing the same songs as my high schoolers and we are fully embraced by joy!
For 15 joyous minutes, my children and I get to “jam” to hits that both invigorate our senses and inspire our faith. In these moments I am reminded that God is everywhere - even in our minivan - pouring His Spirit afresh on us. I am thankful for KB’s mashup of “Holy Forever” with “We Still Believe” celebrating that “revival [is] going round in circles.” I circle back to pick up my children every day. Revival circles with me!
Thank you, God, for DJ Lexi who prayerfully prepares a playlist that ushers moms and her children into Your presence on car rides to school. Thank you for the joy and hope manifested through the holy lyrics of the artists like KB, Lecrae and Blanca. Thank you for the courage of LightForce (LF) Radio to saturate the airways with music that exalts Your name at wee hours of the morning. And most of all, thank You for my children who remind me of my age and keep me conscious of my (not-so) coolness by telling me that the music is too loud. For these moments of joy I am forever grateful. Amen.
***
Mini Martinez is an aspiring writer and pharmacist with over 25 years of experience serving the community in retail pharmacy. She has the gift of gab and a deep affection for words. Mini currently resides in Central Florida with her husband, their three teenage children, and extremely spoiled Yorkie Poo.
If you would like to write a guest post, send me your submission. Perhaps we can find a home for it! With over 2500k followers, I’d love to use this Substack to amplify other joyful voices.
***
Did you enjoy this post? I’ll be leading a 2 hour Generative Joy Zoom Workshop 6/7 10am-noon PST
In this generative workshop we will look at work from three joyful writers. Being in conversation with other writers help us develop our own pieces.
Details:
+ Cost $60 (Paid via Venmo or Zelle)
+ Limit 12 participants
+Access to Google Drive with recommended reading to improve your craft.
+This workshop will help to expand your writing network. My goal is to connect you with like-minded writers with whom you can encourage, uplift and share work even after the class ends.
+You will start the seeds of THREE joyful pieces to develop and sharpen in the days thereafter.
***
Upcoming Events:
5/13/25 Writing for Your Life Zoom: Dealing with Discouragement
5/18/25 Women’s Spring Tea at St Barbara’s Black Diamond, WA
5/21/25 Undaunted Joy Reading at St James Cathedral
Let me know if you are interested in having me speak at your church, school or bookclub.
This is great, Mini! Keep on writing. I hope I'll get to see more of what you create in the future.
Way to go Mini!