When I got married in 2009, we were blessed with several lovely sets of dishes as wedding gifts. When our divorce was finalized in 2018, those dishes (along with some other wedding-gift-type things) became a source of pain and sadness for me. I'd tell myself how silly it was, and yet, I couldn't quite shake the emotions I had every time I thought about how different my life was, the first time I ate off of that plate or drank from that mug.
Nevertheless, parenting solo, I wasn't going to do something frivolous like buy myself new dishes when the old ones were perfectly fine. Even when I saw dishes I absolutely loved at Walmart ... the prices were reasonable ... but don't be silly.
Then one day, I got home from running some errands and taking the kids to the park, and there were several bags of something sitting waiting for me at my door. The bags were full of dishes ... the exact ones that I loved ... each one individually wrapped in newspaper so I got to experience unwrapping each one like a kid at Christmas LOL. They were from a friend of mine, a wonderful woman -- I don't think I'd ever mentioned my heartbreak over dishes (I would have felt too silly) -- let alone mentioned the dishes that I loved -- and yet, there they were. A full set of big plates and little plates and some cute little accessories too. She said she just felt like they suited me, and, God gave her a nudge so she bought them and dropped them off ...
I have to tell you, I cried ... lots. I wrapped up my old dishes, ones given in a time of promises not honoured (by either side), and passed them along to a family who needed them and wouldn't notice the memories. It was like starting fresh. One less source of sadness-triggering stuff in my life. It was one more thing to help me move on.
I felt so loved by my friend, and also, so loved by God. Did you know god cares about every detail of YOUR life? Even your dishes? He hears the cries of your heart. He wants to help. My life didn't miraculously become easy, nor did God solve all of my problems for me ... but like a loving parent, He took steps to make sure I felt his love in the quiet corners of my heart. I call these, "kisses from God". If you watch for them, you'll see them in your life too. I promise.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
Of course, God cares about the little things in our lives, because everything is “little” compared to God! Luke 12:17 says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” God takes the time to keep up with how many hairs we have—now that’s a God of detail!
If that wasn't blessing enough, one thing I was missing -- big soup bowls -- another friend of mine just happened to have waiting for me. She'd bought them for herself, then realized she didn't need them, but kept forgetting to return them. I saw them boxed up and commented "nice bowls" LOL and it turns out, they were meant to be mine. They match in that perfectly mismatched way that makes me happy. Now I get to feel the love of friends no matter which dish I happen to be eating from.
Thank you Lord, that you care about our desires, both big and small. Help me to never forget it, and help others to know it. In Jesus's name. Amen.
