Shoes - God's Consistent Provision

It seemed like such a good idea at the time...

Basketball season was coming to a close and it had not gone well.  AT. ALL.  

Track seemed like a great idea, he can really jump!  But.  He's never tried it.  He is completely dedicated to basketball.

When he agreed to try it - just for the season - we were all excited - until...

SHOES!  Ug!  The week before the track meet, we realize he needs track shoes.  Seriously???  Of course he does.  I can't think of a single thing this poor kid does that doesn't require a new pair of shoes.  The week's schedule was already full.  Overflowing, really.  If the shoe store was open 24 hours a day, we might be able to find something.  And, of course, it was too late to order something on-line.  Should I have been more prepared? Sure, if I he had committed to the team or if I had knowledge of the shoe situation, I might have been.  (MIGHT.)

Back story:  14, 13, 12, 6, 4, 3 mos.  Those are the ages of the kids in my house right now.  The baby is a foster baby who is visiting parents, social workers, Doctors and specialists.  The 13 year old is also new to our home and will hopefully be adopted.  She also has visits from social workers, psychiatrists, school counselors, psychologist, doctors, specialists, etc...We regularly have appointments daily.  Usually, more than one a day.  The 12, 6, and 5 year old are home-schooled.

I had no way to get him shoes.  The only possible time I had was the day before the meet.  I looked at shoes and realized that they may cost up to $100!  This used to be enough to derail me, but!  I am learning.  I am learning to trust in Him!  I knew that what needed to be done was beyond what I could control or do.  I couldn't guarantee that the shoes he wanted or needed would be in the stores, that they would have his size, or that we could afford them.  I had no way to control the schedule that was already set before me.  I simply looked for a time and decided I would do my best.  I never really considered what would happen if we didn't find the shoes, but I think I must have just figured that God would have something.  

And then it happened!  I got a text.  "Coach found shoes for me."  When I got to his school  he pulls out a pair of like-new condition - just the right size - perfect style - track shoes!!!  They were still in a box, still in a bag.  They were left in with the track supplies.  No one knew who they belong to and it appeared to all involved that they had been left in the track supplies from last year!  The coach said he was welcome to use them for this season. There is nothing too insignificant for our God, nothing too difficult.  Just when it seems like it can't be done, HE DOES IT!  This just blows me away.

I think God had a special plan for this one.  My son has been struggling to experience God on his own.  He knows how God has provided shoes for him in the past and how God provided boots for Mari.  The fact that he got to experience this provision again, in this way made God feel very close and very real.  I think God was giving him an extra love that day and I got to be part of it too.  It is funny to me how God chooses to repeat things.  Probably just to get my attention.  I think my oldest may want to consider what his feet might be used for, since God is taking very good care of them!!!

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."  Jeremiah 32:17


Just in case you wanted to see how God has ministered to us using shoes in the past....look here and here