There are no coincidences with God.

It may look like just a refrigerator, but in reality it is so much more. It will stand in my kitchen as a tribute to a God Who cares about the details.

You may know that our [not so] old refrigerator just up and died on Tuesday. Tuesday was not a good day for a refrigerator death, but appliances (like children), don't check schedules before making decisions.

Not excited about making such an expensive decision without my husband, who had important work commitments, I called my mom, and she prayed with me that I would just know when the purchase was right. So, Wednesday I spent the morning looking for a new refrigerator. 

 

Apparently, during a refrigerator shortage. 

 

Because of COVID.

 

On the day that I was supposed to be planning my first-of-the-year six-hour seminar for Thursday. 

 

Needless to say, not much luck. I found one or two that might work, but the waiting time of up to 4 weeks was a big deterrent. That’s a lot of expensive takeout. J

 

After a disappointing morning, I set out again in the afternoon for an unrelated appointment that was already on my calendar. Upon attempting to check in, I was informed that there was a mistake and that we would have to reschedule. Close to tears [I had been looking forward to this appointment for weeks], I heard Holy Spirit reminding me that He orders my steps. All of them. Even the inconvenient ones. (Psalm 37:23-24)

 

There are no mistakes with God.

 

Figuring that Peter had already taken off from work to watch the children, I decided to make one last stop at what I call the Scratch-N-Dent not far from where I was. I went into the storeroom and found nothing of interest. Happening upon a refrigerator that I didn't much like but that would do in a pinch (it was missing a handle, but at 50% off, I could order another handle and still save money), I took a few pictures to take home and show Peter. As I was readying to leave, the sky opened up with a torrential downpour. The salesman had just finished telling me that there were a few refrigerators on the truck being unloaded, so I could wait a few more minutes to see if something struck me. I opted to stay dry.

Then, they wheeled an enormous refrigerator by me, and a little voice inside said, "that's your refrigerator." (remember mom's prayer?) I took one look and said, "nonsense." It was stainless steel (I wanted black), and it had a computer screen on it. No way. Not for me. 

But...

Out of sheer curiosity, I asked the assistant manager for the price, while also mentioning with great clarity that there was no way I intended to purchase such frivolity. She replied with a number $300 less than the aforementioned one that would do in a pinch. 

Today, this refrigerator stands in my kitchen (delivered just three days after the other one died). It has a few small dings (don't we all?), but a well-placed magnet can take care of that. You may say, that it is just a refrigerator. Yes, it is. But, it has some pretty neat features that remind me that God loves to bless us. The computer screen speaks my husband's language. If he weren't married to me, there might be computer screens throughout the house. I love that he can have something he enjoys. Oh, and I discovered that Pavarotti can sing to me through the speakers. What a special time I had reminiscing about my Nonna, who listened to him regularly with tears streaming down her precious face. Most importantly, I saved 50% off the retail price, and it was cheaper than all the other basic models I saw at other stores. 

The other night as I was rocking my little guy to sleep, my heart suddenly began to ache for his mama and all the precious moments she sacrificed because her love for him was so deep. 

And then it struck me. 

• From the moment we committed to adopting our first, it was roughly a 9 month journey.

• We applied for a home study for our four oldest exactly one week before their agency petitioned the court for permanent custody.

• Nine months before our last baby's due date, Holy Spirit led us to switch to the agency that led us to our son.

These timelines are not coincidence. Neither was my refrigerator breaking or my appointment cancellation. 

If you are in the midst of grief, pain, or uncertainty, God knows. It's tempting to think that if God cared, suffering wouldn't exist. Perhaps you wouldn't have been abused or wronged in some way. Maybe your unborn child or younger sibling would still be alive or your rights would not have been violated in some way or another. It's easy for me to fall prey to the thought that my children might not have had to suffer. 

But, that misses the larger point. 

Suffering exists because of sin. Yet, even in the midst of that sin, God is already there preparing a solution. He planted the tree that Zaccheaus needed many decades before he needed to climb it to see Jesus. And, He is already planning how to meet your need and my need. Even my need for a refrigerator (during a shortage...because of COVID...).

Nothing takes Him by surprise. 

So, if you come visit me, you may be impressed with the app that shows you what is inside of my refrigerator or the messages that I can write on the electronic whiteboard from miles away. I may even let you peruse my Pandora stations displayed on the front. But none of those things are nearly as exciting as knowing that the God of the universe not only knows how many eggs are on my top shelf, but he knows how many hairs are on my head, and that both of those numbers matters to Him.