The God of Small Things

While opp shopping on Wed, we spotted the perfect pair of canvas sneakers for J.

I almost missed them as I was busy paying for my purchases and didn't notice the tray of used baby shoes under the counter.

J took a shine to the two pairs I picked out: a white pair with fuschia laces, and a candy-striped pair with velco straps.

At $1 a pair, they were irresistible, and I went away with a glad heart and gratitude at my good fortune.

On Thu, J wore the candy-striped pair for the walk to school to fetch Beth...

...And promptly lost one shoe on the way home!

Such "heart pain".

After dropping Beth off at school this morning, I thought I would retrace the route we took yesterday, and see if we could find the shoe.

Before we started, I prayed aloud: "Dear Lord, please help us find J's shoe."

Then we started out.

I kept my eyes glued to the ground with great hope and expectation. J has a habit of dropping one shoe, and He has graciously helped us find the missing half on at least two occasions, so I was confident He could do the same again.

We got as far as the grassy track outside the Werribee Baptist Church. Just as we were halfway across, I spotted it from afar - a white object standing out from the grass, dirt and broken bits of glass. I got closer, and saw candy stripes.

"Look! We've found your shoe!" I cried to J.

It seems a small thing, but our God - the same God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, and who created you and me - is keenly interested in the small details of our lives. He does not mock our neediness or weary at the things that occupy our minds.

I am reminded of Matthew 6:26:

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"