Strangers and the Skirt

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Sometimes you just can't find the words to bring enough glory to His name. Sometimes words just don't seem enough. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair that He uses us - mere people - to display His power. Yet He does. Sometimes I wish that I understood the mind of God - why and how He works. Yet He doesn't let me.

But sometimes...He does. He shows me His power. He shows me clearly and visibly how He works. And then sometimes I wonder if there have been reminders all along, and yet I haven't even taken the time to notice.

The Lord gave me a reminder I couldn't miss last night at the grocery store...

Rewind a week ago though. I was sitting down talking and chatting about random things with Steven. And then, as is my habit, I asked him something that I had been thinking about for a while. He is getting used to my need for thought-provoking discussions and probing questions. This time, I had been thinking about angels unaware, miracles, and signs of God. Light subjects I know. I asked him if he had ever had a complete stranger pay for his meal before. He said, "no" and why would I ask something like that. "I don't know. I've just been thinking about it lately. I've never had it happen to me before either." My mind had been recalling missionary biographies I had soaked up as a highschooler and all the many stories of miracles and visible acts of God that I had read about. I was missing those days where I would spend entire afternoons curled up in our hammock outside or in a private spot in the woods where we lived indulging in books. Missionary biographies were my favorite and an instrumental part of my spiritual growth during those teen years. I knew that I didn't believe that God restricts Himself to miracles, visible answers to prayer, or even signs to the mission field. He is real. And He is powerful. Wherever we are. Not a distant higher being we pray to at every meal.

We talked some more about this subject, but got distracted (I'm sure) by someone needing a diaper change or a sippy cup or a book read. My deep conversations are getting fewer and farther in between these days. =)

Then last night we went to the grocery store late at night. Very uncustomary for us since we are sticking more to a schedule now that we have three little ones. I, much to Steven's frustration, typically make a big fuss about everyone looking presentable before we go out. But I get pretty tired by 10pm. So, I only winced maybe once at Emma's purple fleece jammies with red trench coat and black sandals.

We quickly went through the grocery store picking out a handful of items we were running out of. We stood in the checkout line for what seemed like an unusually long amount of time. Not that I was noticing really because I was checking out Reese Witherspoon's teeth on the front pages of all the magazines. Steven was the one carrying on light conversation with the people in front of us. I did notice they seemed to really love the kids and were making small talk with them.

Our turn comes to load our groceries and the people in front of us were just kind of hanging out talking to the girls and laughing at their antics. Then the guy says to Steven, "Can I pay for your groceries? Is that ok? I really want to pay for your groceries." Steven was so caught off guard and didn't seem to know what to say. "If you really want to," he manages to get out. And then I start gushing about how that's so sweet of them and on and on I go. I'm sure Steven was thinking, "Be quiet! This is awkward enough!" The guy swipes his card and then shakes Steven's hand and says goodbye...and...off they go.

I immediately recalled the conversation Steven and I had had within this same week and I just wanted to get on my knees right there in our Neighborhood Market Walmart and praise God. How good of Him to give my questioning mind a visible reminder of His power and faithfulness! I was simply floored by the goodness of God. Even as I type this out, words just do not seem to do justice. I know I need to write them though so I can remember the acts of God in my life - in case I am tempted to doubt. In case my children question someday. I can point them to things like this - His undeniable acts of power.

Psalm 145:3 -- "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."

Hebrews 13:2 -- "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

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I also want my children to remember how much I loved making things for them.



A part of me cringes at how they may think the things I created were so tacky 20 years from now! But then the other part laughs as I think about how I'll assure them that they need not worry: it was in style. How many of you are recalling this same conversation with your own mother now? I know I am. =)



I love how it turned out. Feminine, but not too girly. Midwestern, but not too redneck. And...dare I say...looking a little like Anthropologie - if they had a kids line.

And...a slight confession. I have been coveting a pair of cowgirl boots for myself these days. Maybe it's the fact that we live in Oklahoma and it just feels right. You know? A girl needs to fit in, right?
But I'm not coveting just any pair: I'm coveting these.

Why oh why do I always like the most expensive things?

Yeah, this is not going to happen for a loooong time I can tell you.