I stood in front of my closet and stared despairingly at the few clothes hanging there. “Boy, my wardrobe really needs some help, Lord. What am I going to wear?” I said it out loud as if He was standing there beside me. It was a question I thought had little significance. Nevertheless, I knew I was talking to someone who listened, and it soon became apparent my question was important enough for Him to answer.

After twelve years as a stay-at-home mom, I felt overcome by the new role of being a single parent to three young boys. With no financial support, little work experience and few skills, I agonized over the unchartered territory that loomed ahead.  Somehow I’d have to become the only breadwinner for our broken family.   

At the same time, I trusted God that He would take care of us. I knew He was there, watching over us. I didn’t know how but felt an assurance that He would provide us with what we needed, big or small. First I needed a job and appropriate clothes to dress in.

Later that day, I started out to my car parked in front of our apartment. As I crossed the small patch of lawn to the parking area, I heard a male voice above me call out.

“Hey, do you want some clothes?”

I turned around and looked up to see a man on the balcony of the apartment above mine. He was a striking, silver-haired man of middle age and held a large cardboard box in his arms. He let out a deep breath and seemed exasperated as he explained he was helping his daughter clean out her closet.

“She has got to get rid of some stuff. She is such a clothes horse. She has so many clothes she really doesn’t need.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes, then looked at me with an expression of hope. “I think you might be about her size. Here, I’ll drop these down to you, okay?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Sure that would be great! I could use some clothes”. I marched back and stood beneath the balcony eagerly ready to catch the box. He carefully dropped it down to me, and as I caught it in the air, I realized a beautiful symbolism. What better representation of the Lord answering my prayer than this kind man dropping down clothes to me.  

“There’s some more, he said. “We’ll box them up and bring them down to your door later, okay?”

“Okay. That would be great! Thank you so much,” I said, truly amazed.”

Later that day while I was away on errands, two more boxes arrived on my doorstep, filled with clothes. Some still had the price tags on them.

This man’s kindness, with God’s perfect timing, tickled my heart.  It showed me once again that God listens to even our smallest prayers. Even when we believe they aren’t important, they aren’t too trivial to Him.

The Lord was prompt in His generous response, and what a selection! Not only did He provide me what I needed, but did it with flair. The man’s daughter was quite the shopper. I couldn’t have made better choices in attire had I picked them out myself. It was some of God’s timely and tailor-made care packages to me which I will never forget.

I wonder what that silver-haired father would think, if he knew the great Father of Majesty used him that day to represent and act on His behalf, in sending down a few care packages of love from above.

Matthew 6:28 & 29: And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. NIV

Francie lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California with her husband and best friend. She loves the gift of life the Lord has given her and has a passion to write about it... for His glory.