Does God really care about the details of our lives? Looking back on my life, I can answer with confidence, “Yes, He does!”
When I was three years old, my parents moved to a large house at the far end of East Avenue near the little town of Arkport, in upstate New York. We had a wrap-around porch that was great for roller skating and rainy-day games, and a big tree-filled yard complete with a swing. Across the road was a dairy farm with a creek where we loved to swim. My mom’s parents, the Wilcoxes, lived about five blocks into town. We had only one set of grandparents, since my Grandma DeSerio had recently passed away, and Grandpa DeSerio had gone back to his native Italy. So we were especially close to Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox.
Dad worked down on Main Street at Cy’s grocery store, cutting meat and wrapping it in white butcher paper for customers. He worked hard, but his paychecks didn’t go far to support a family of five. He had never finished high school because he had to help support his mom.
Earlier in his life, Dad had struggled with alcoholism. But one night he decided to let God into his life and gave up drinking virtually overnight! (See his story, “The Transformation of GI Joe” ) As a new Christian, he learned to trust God for daily needs. He was saving up money to go to Bible school to become a minister.
At one point, Dad really needed new shoes (size 9), but there was little money to spare. So he asked God for help. A short time later, after our elderly neighbor, Mr. Came, passed, Mrs. Came stopped by. She brought over some of her late husband’s clothes to see if anything would fit Dad. Something caught Dad’s eye – a brand new pair of shoes! But would they fit? Of course–they were size 9!
Dad was so happy! God met his needs through the generosity of another.
“My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).