Joel and Lauren decided to move from Washington State back home to
Michigan. Wanting to make one last special memory, they bought coffee from
their favorite cafe and then stopped at their favorite bookstore. There they
picked up two bumper stickers with a favorite motto of the town they were
saying goodbye to: “It’s an Edmonds kind of day.”
After 2 weeks and a 3,000-mile drive, they entered Michigan. Hungry and
wanting to celebrate their arrival, they stopped and asked about where to find
a restaurant. Although they had to backtrack a few miles, they found a quaint
little cafe. Emma, their waitress, excited to learn they were from her home
state of Washington, asked, “What city?” “Edmonds,” they replied. “That’s where
I’m from!” she said. Wanting to share the joy, Joel got their extra bumper
sticker from the car and handed it to her. Amazingly, the sticker was from her
mother’s store! It had gone from her mom’s hands to theirs, across 3,000 miles,
to her hands.
Mere coincidence? Or were these experiences good gifts orchestrated by a
good God who loves to encourage His children? Proverbs tells us, “A man’s steps
are directed by the Lord” (20:24 NIV). In response, let’s “bless His name. For
the Lord is good” (Ps. 100:4-5).
Every good gift comes from God. (RBC)