A Surprise Gift

A Surprise Gift

[Jesus said,] “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” Matthew 6:31-32

I knew our first Christmas in Colorado would be meager, but by then we were veterans at slim holiday budgets and creative fun. So, one December morning, I paid the winter taxes, caught up on the bills, bought groceries, and thanked the Lord we still had thirty-four dollars to get us through until the next month’s paycheck. I was calm. Even with Christmas, we could coast for four weeks.

Then Jay came home from school. “Mom, don’t forget I have to pay my chamber choir fees by this Wednesday.”

I held my breath. “How much?”

“Seventy dollars.” He dug into a box of cheese snacks.

The kitchen chair squeaked as I sat down. “Well, Jay, it’s going to be interesting to see how the Lord works this out.”

Holly strolled in then, so I had them both sit with me.

I opened the checkbook, explained the situation and said, “You know the prayer that went into our move. Now we’re starting an adventure. We’re going to see God work in ways that never would have been possible without this situation. And you may discover the joys of soup beans and corn bread, but God won’t let us go hungry. My Kentucky days are going to pay off!”

Jay shook his head at the mention of the beans. “That’s carrying a good attitude too far, Mom.”

I leaned forward. “I’m telling you we’re going to be all right. Remember how England’s George Müller and the orphans in his care sat at an empty table and thanked God for the food they were about to receive? And before they finished their prayer, a baker was at the door, saying he’d baked too many loaves of bread that morning and could they use them? Or a milk wagon had broken down, and the driver didn’t want to take the milk back to the dairy?

“Well, you just wait and see how the Lord takes care of our need for that seventy dollars.”

Then we prayed, thanking the Lord for his future provision.

The next day’s mail brought an unexpected utility bill—and a rebate check from Allied Van Lines for $254! Christmas would be no problem. —SANDRA

Lord, thank you for your constant gifts. Help me not to take them for granted but to see your loving hand in each one.

God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame.

—ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING (1806–1861), ENGLISH POET