A Shoebox

This morning I went to Des Moines to take a baby class that the hospital offers.  On the way home I stopped at Walmart to get some groceries.  Cereal, pie crust (still haven't found a recipe i like), carrots and toilet paper were a few of the items, along with a toothbrush for the shoebox.  I saw a package of 4 and decided to get the package of 2.  After all the groceries were in my cart, I made my way to the children's clothing section.  Not knowing if I was going to buy for a boy or girl this year, I thought I would see what I could find.  Each year, our church participates in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse.  Jerod and I have done it for a couple years and it's something I really enjoy.  When my good friend Maureen was in Africa, she actually got to help deliver a shipment of boxes to hundreds of children.  She posted the video on her blog and it brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it.  

I came across some boys t-shirts and noticed that they were Christian shirts with Bible verses on them.  I found one that I really liked and put it in the cart.  So it looks like I'll be buying for a boy between the ages of 10-14.  And then I became stumped and couldn't think of anything else to get.  Boys here in the states that age most likely have interests in things that I could not fit into a shoebox.  So I prayed and asked the Lord what I should get.  After all, He knows the exact child this box will go to.  And then a cool thing started to happen. Really cool.  When you quit rationalizing things and just listen to the Lord's voice.  I got a box of Uno cards and the Lord told me that someone would come to his house and teach him how to play.  I walked buy an isle full of candles and knew I should turn down there but I kept walking.  What would a boy want a candle for?  It's not for him, it's for his mother.  So I turned back around and got a candle.  It was really interesting picking out what scent too.  I didn't get the spice type candles because I have a feeling those will be familiar smells in their county.  So I got a cherry one.  I thought it was interesting that I would put something in the box for the boys mother, but the Lord showed me that the boy is the man of the house.  He doesn't have a father living with them and he has 2 younger siblings.  He's not a selfish boy and he would be glad to share with his family.  

I kind of walking aimlessly, without knowing what I was looking for but knowing that the Lord would make it clear to me.  I picked up a word search book and continued down another isle.  Not seeing anything for a child I thought, Why did we go down this isle?  For you.   At the very end I found a 2009 planner that I had been wanting.  :)  Then I came across what I was looking for, crayons for the younger ones.  I went back to the toothbrush isle and replaced the ones I got for the pack of 4.  I found a few other small things and as I payed for the items, I felt really good about what I had purchased.  

You know you can make your own don't you?  This time it was the cashiers voice talking about my pie crust that she was holding.  Yes I know, I said.  But I haven't found a recipe that I like yet.  I walked outside to the first real snow of the season.  It was beautiful!  It was also beautiful how the Lord made things clear to me, but also that I listened.  Sometimes I get too caught up in other things that I miss it.  Miss the blessing that He's trying to tell me and I don't want to do that.  I don't want to miss any more candles.