God Cares About the "Small" Things - Ruth Snyder

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"Mom, why are we turning around?"

"We're going back to Edmonton. To get your iPad, Levi." I fought to keep my tone even, though I felt like screaming. I kept telling myself it was only an iPad. 

"Mom's not very happy with you right now." Between checking for other vehicles, I glanced at my fifteen-year-old son. His eyes were on vehicles approaching, no doubt identifying each one. He had absolutely no clue about my inner turmoil. All he knew was that his iPad was missing.

We had left Edmonton half an hour before. Since we were later than I thought we would be, I had phoned the lady who was staying with our other children to make sure she could stay until we arrived home. Just as we were reaching the outskirts of the city, Levi reached down to grab his iPad so he could take a picture of a vehicle that was approaching. It wasn't there. Keeping my eyes on the road, I groped around, thinking it had fallen out of his reach. My hand came up empty too. I found a safe place to pull over and Levi and I both looked for the iPad. Nothing.

I knew I had given Levi's iPad back to him after our visit to the toy section in Walmart. "Did you put your iPad down somewhere?" It's never easy to get information out of Levi. Between his speech difficulties and developmental delays, facts come out garbled at the best of times. I talked him through events and we both came to the realization that his iPad had probably been left on the bathroom counter of Walmart.

Most of the way back I was praying. Hoping the iPad would be where Levi left it. Asking God to help me maintain my perspective. Reminding myself that it was only an iPad, costing about $1,000 to replace, but nevertheless only a piece of technology. 

When we arrived back at Walmart, we went to the bathroom. No iPad. My heart sank. 

"Excuse me. Is there a lost and found in the store?"

The security guard nodded. "What are you looking for?"

"An iPad."

"Go check at customer service."

As we walked through the store I continued praying. Trying to prepare myself to deal with the reality we'd never see the iPad again.

"Hi. I came to see if you had an iPad turned in."

The clerk smiled and reached behind her. There it was! Levi's iPad. Safely back in his hands.

"Thank you!" 

I felt like shouting. Instead I thanked God and Levi and I headed home.

Even as I write this, there are tears in my eyes. God cares about you and me! Have you thanked Him for something today?

In Everything Give Thanks? - Ruth L. Snyder

As I write, my heart is heavy. Yesterday morning (October 25) in a community less than 50 kilometres from where I live, a van smashed through a fence and a window/wall into a school, pinning three grade 6 students underneath it. Five other students were also injured. The three girls were removed from underneath the van, pronounced to be in critical condition, and flown by STARS to Edmonton. Today one of the girls died. Police are still investigating the incident. Here's a report from the Edmonton Journal.

The Apostle Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (KJV) When tragedy strikes, giving thanks is usually the last thing on our minds. After all, there seems little to be thankful for, at least from a human perspective. Perhaps some other Scripture verses can shed light for us.

• Psalm 50:23 "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (ESV)

• Hebrews 13:15 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name." (NIV)

• Psalm 107:22 "Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing." (NASB)

In her latest post, Lynn Dove reminded us that thanksgiving is a choice. It's easy for us to be thankful for things we like - obedient children, finding a beautiful dress on sale, hearing the birds sing, warm sunny days, etc. However, Scripture seems to indicate that when we choose to offer thanks during difficult times, we are actually worshipping God - offering him a "sacrifice of thanksgiving."

God doesn't expect us to thank Him for the tragic death of a young girl. However, we can thank Him for the following:

• God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Events do not change God’s character.

• God is with us and walks with us through the difficult times ("When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2 NIV)

• God hears our prayers, even when we don't know how to pray. ("In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26 NIV)

• God will work all things out for His glory ("And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT)

Today I'm choosing to give thanks. It's a choice that will bring honour to God. Do you agree?




Ruth L. Snyder
www.trusteesnyder.blogspot.com (Education information)
www.ruthlsnyder.com (Ruth's writing and family life)
www.earlyyearssuccess.com (Information for caregivers of children ages 0-5)
Follow Ruth on Twitter:www.twitter.com/@wwjdr

Does God Care About the Details of my Life? - Ruth L. Snyder

Last week I had the opportunity in my work as a school board trustee to fly to Boston for the National School Boards Association conference. My flight was delayed for an hour, so I used the time to catch up on emails and read the latest news. When the boarding call was finally made, I switched off my iPhone and headed for the departure gate. The flight itself was uneventful. However, because of the late departure I only had twenty minutes to race from one gate to another in the vast Toronto airport. (A fellow traveler joked that we were running our own version of the Boston Marathon!) I was relieved to discover others also had a tight connection and the plane was being held until we were all accounted for. Just over an hour later as I disembarked in Boston, I reached into my jacket pocket for my phone. It wasn't there.

The next morning as I was discussing my lost phone with a friend I commented, "Everything happens for a reason."

He replied, "I don't believe that. Sometimes it's just bad luck."

It struck me that his world view is different than mine. I believe in a God who loves me intimately, who is always with me no matter where I go, who knows how many hairs I have on my head, who provides everything I need. In Matthew 6:25-34 I am reminded that I don't need to worry about my life, or what I will eat and drink, or what I will wear. Instead of worrying, I am challenged to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." (verse 33)

When "bad" things happen, I have a choice. I can complain, fret, worry, get upset, and focus on the negative, OR I can choose to give thanks, trust, rest, and focus on God's consistent character. Sometimes God will intervene and change the circumstances. Other times, the circumstances will remain the same.

Despite contacting both airports and the airline's lost and found, my phone is still missing. (In case you're wondering, I had not downloaded the "Find my iPhone" app.) However, I enjoyed a wonderful conference. I was able to interact with other school board trustees, learn some new skills, and enjoy listening to inspiring speakers like Salmond Khan and Geoffrey Canada. Next week I'm looking forward to receiving a new cell phone.

Ruth L. Snyder

Check out Ruth's blogs: www.trusteesnyder.blogspot.com (Education information) www.ruthlsnyder.com (Ruth's writing and family life) and www.earlyyearssuccess.com (Information for caregivers of children ages 0-5)

Follow Ruth on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wwjdr