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Verse:“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” —Matthew 18:12, NKJV
After my mother died, my father gave most of her things away to the college where he worked in Virginia. One day, I asked my father what happened to my mom’s cedar chest. He replied that he gave it away to a college student.
It had never occurred to him that his own family may have wanted it. Our niece wanted the cedar chest to remember her grandmother.
But it was too late. Many years later, I visited a friend in another city about one hour away and went to her church. After the service, she invited a young couple to join us for lunch. As we were talking, I realized she knew my parents from attending the college where my parents worked. As I continued to visit with her, I realized that my dad had given her the cedar chest. Later, her grandmother gave her a cedar chest.
This young woman offered to give my mother’s chest back to me.
The cedar chest traveled all the way to Illinois from Virginia and back up to Michigan, where my niece lived. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to have found this treasure! I like to think that God was smiling down on me when I found this chest.
He loves us in a unique and special way.
He cares about us in a very personalized fashion.
He has given us our own personal guardian angel (see Psalm 91:11). Our angel guards and protects us every step of the way from unknown danger.
God knows our wants and needs.
He will give us whatever we need but not necessarily what we want because He knows what’s best for us in our Christian growth.
In Matthew 7:11, Jesus says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (NKJV). God surprised me many years later after I had pretty much forgotten about my conversation with my dad regarding my mom’s cedar chest. What have you lost? A prized possession, a job, a pet, a relationship, or a spouse? In 1 Peter 5:7, Jesus says to cast “all [our] care upon Him, for He cares for [us]” (NKJV). Jesus loves to surprise you with good gifts! Why not see what He has in store for you today?
Gyl Moon Bateman