The Last Straw

I love to shop. Always have, always will.

That doesn't mean I love to buy things. Exactly the opposite. I just love seeing the things there are for sale, hunting down the bargains, seeing who has the best product available for the best price and who will give me the best service for the price offered. I can spend hours in Wal-Mart and be thoroughly entertained without spending a dime. Consider me easily amused, or consider me a cheap date.

That's one reason I became a secret shopper. Not only for the extra cash, which I will admit comes in handy, but for other reasons as well. I like to catch people in the act of doing good things for others. Customer service is no better place. If an employee will treat a customer well without knowing he's being evaluated, he's someone you want to encourage. I recently had the opportunity to do just that.

A local drive-in chain contracted shoppers to come in, purchase a specific type of drink and look for specific criteria. If the criteria was met, the shopper was to notify the manager his or her store had done a good job, and a prize package was awarded. I love to give out prizes to deserving people. It makes my day! On the shops I did, however, I was unable to drink the beverage I had to order since it contained sugar...a big no-no on the list of forbidden foods for this gal. Instead of drinking it, I'd leave it on the stand next to my car or take it in with me when I went in to speak with the manager. Because of this I tended to come up with quite a collection of straws that sat unused on my console.

Never being one to waste, I decided to save the straws. I mean hey, you never know when a straw will come in handy, right? Of course, some people may call this packrat-itis. I prefer to call it recycling. Sure enough, the very next day I needed a straw...and the day after that...until all the straws were used!

Now, either God has just a really weird sense of humor (and I would never put it past Him), or He knew before I did what my SMALLEST need would be - even before it happened. Not only that, but He PROVIDED for it. And as an added bonus, the straws were even the same color and almost the same size. Go figure.

I think you can tell where I'm going with this.

I worry a lot about money. Where it's coming from to pay what bill and when. How we're going to afford college for the final two kids. If we can afford to buy groceries this week or if we have to hope Mom will invite us over for dinner. How we're going to survive when we're old and gray.

But get this.

If God can provide a straw.....well, you can fill in the rest.


Matthew 6:30
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (NLT)