God’s Good Gifts

Mr. 4-Ever and I were driving home from a conference on a hot and sunny day.

We’d been on the road for hours, and I just had to have a break . . . and a chocolate malt. A jumbo cup of thick, chocolatey deliciousness.

I tried to talk myself out of it, but the hankering would not go away.

Finally, I asked Mr. 4-Ever to be on the lookout for ice cream.

We got off at the next exit and followed the signs to McDonald’s.

Mind you, McDonald’s would do, but really, I had something a little different in mind.

I wanted hand-scooped ice cream and lots of malt powder mixed with whole milk and all blended together. I wanted my cold, smooth concoction fresh from the whirl of a malt maker.

Just as we saw the golden arches, I spied an ice cream stand on the other side of the road.

“Can we go there instead?” I asked Mr. 4-Ever excitedly.

“No, let’s just stick with McDonald’s,” he said.

He was already in McDonald’s mode: drive-through quick, inexpensive, and satisfactory.

“Okay,” I offered as a disappointing reply.

“I have to use the ladies’ room anyway. I’ll go in and get the shake.”

 

God was with me

At the counter, I saw a big “Out of Order” sign on the machine that oozes milk shakes.

I was practically giddy as I asked the server, “Is your milkshake machine working?”

“No, I’m so sorry, ma’am. It’s broken. May I get you something else?”

“No, thank you,” I replied.

I skipped out to the car to tell Mr. 4-Ever the news.

“Are you kidding?” he said, looking suspicious.

Now, to be honest, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that I might exaggerate the truth
to get what I want, but God was with me on this occasion!

“Nope, I’m not kidding,” I told him, giving him my sincerest look.

“They have no ice cream capability today. We’ll have to go across the street to the ice cream stand, after all.”

 

“You deserve the best!”

Mr. 4-Ever shook his head, and started the car. He pulled into the lot and parked in the shade of the cinder-block ice-cream stand.

“You deserve the best!” was painted in big, swirling script the length of the exterior wall.

I looked at Mr. 4-Ever.

“We would have settled for a McDonald’s shake when God really wanted us to have a thick, handmade chocolate malt.

You deserve the best, Dave!”

 

Mr. 4-Ever nodded and smiled. “Isn’t God good? He loves us so much!”

 

  • Last summer it was a chocolate malt.
  • Later it was a great deal on a refurbished laptop computer I needed.
  • Last week, it was a job opportunity I thought was a no go.
  • Two years ago, it was finding the tiny jewel for Dave’s watch he’d dropped in the snow.
  • Three years ago, my purse was stolen. It was recovered by the police in a different state
    with all the contents still inside.

 

How many times do I forget to expect good things from our good, good Father?

 

What has he surprised you with lately?

Leave me a comment and let me know…then go and expect good things from God today!

 

Verse

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” —Matthew 7:11

Prayer

Father, you know how to give such good gifts to me! How often do I forget that you are a good gift giver. You give, not because I deserve but because that is who you are. Thank you, Lord, for all the gifts—both big and small—that you continually bless me with. Amen.

3 Comments

  1. Tess on April 23, 2023 at 9:08 am

    On Wednesday our 29 year old ( dad of 3) son had a significant mental health event. It was the most intense spiritual warfare I have ever witnessed. Oh Lord, you are the deliverer. Friday morning, our son gave his life to Jesus. Still bawling over here. Praise the name of Jesus.

    • Robyn Dykstra on April 23, 2023 at 9:50 am

      Praise the LORD! Dancing with joy over this good news.

  2. Kelly White on April 29, 2023 at 9:06 am

    Thank you Robyn. I loved your malt application to all of God’s wonderful blessings.
    Have a blessed day!
    Kelly from Kissimmee

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