Little presents from God

I don't get to see my best friend very often. She lives about 45 minutes away and is a very busy working mom who not only has a full-time job, but somehow manages to cart around her kiddos with all their extra activities. She once told me her son's schedule and I about had a heart attack. Not only are we best friends, but we were pregnant together, I was there (with my own big belly) when her daughter was born, and now, our little girls are best friends too. I love it when life works out that way.

Anyway, she was recently promoted, which means I've seen less of her. She's going through training at the store by my house, but it's a weird schedule and she's got no real breaks that she can spend with me.

This weekend we worked on installing a sprinkler system in our yard. It's a lot of work to say the least. I've been needing to go to the store, but didn't want to leave hubby alone with the kiddos while running equipment, nor did I want to bring them. And then I procrastinated, playing packrat, cleaning the house, and chasing the kiddos. Finally, I REALLY had to go to the store.

So there I was, wandering the aisle, looking for a container to put legos in. And there she was. I think we both almost burst into tears. We hugged, talked, and she helped me find the perfect lego container. Fortunately, she happened to be working in that department and also happened to have the same container for her daughter's toys. We only got a few minutes, but she was able to share some things about her life and what's going on with her. Things she needed to share with someone, but couldn't because of her hectic schedule.

As I drove home, I thought about what an amazing coincidence it was that we happened to be in the same aisle at the same time... I was supposed to have gone earlier in the day and she usually doesn't work Sundays. It's also one of her last days at this store before she gets her new store. And... it's a big store and not her usual department. I think God knew that we both needed that moment of connecting with each other, even if for only a few minutes.

Sometimes we ask God for really big things and wonder why we aren't getting them. It's like the little kid who wants a pony... he asks mom and dad for a pony, but at the time, a pony's not feasible. However, mom and dad keep giving the kid other gifts. But because the kiddo is so focused on that pony, a lot of times, the kid doesn't recognize all the other gifts mom and dad are giving him. I think God's a lot like that. We focus on the answer we want, and sometimes we miss the small blessings. I'm so thankful that God is a loving father who chooses to give me good things. Sometimes it's the big things, but sometimes, it's the small lagniappe of running into my best friend for a much-needed hug.