ready to party
A family came in today for help with food pantry, a distraught mother on the verge of tears with the thought that she couldn't afford to throw her daughter a birthday party. Today was the day of her daughter's fourth birthday, but mom, rather than home blowing up balloons and hanging up streamers, is at The Salvation Army, trying, but struggling, to do everything she can to provide for her family. She came in hoping to find food. She was desperate, sad, and defeated.
"I mean what kind of mom can't throw her daughter a birthday party..."
What she is about to discover is, just yesterday someone donated a birthday cake to the pantry, and this morning we received some fresh ice cream, oh also we have avocados at perfect guacamole ripeness - which means that need to be eaten soon or they are hog feed. Paired with a few bags of tortilla chips normally kept in the pantry and this family leaves The Salvation Army ready to throw a party.
She walked in desperate, sad, and defeated. She leaves ready to party. We also met some other needs, but nothing compares being able to help a family throw a birthday party for their daughter.
I think God does these things more often than we realize. He is working through seemingly random birthday cakes, to orchestrate the story of His overwhelming love for us.