Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

 

My kids and I were huddled over a giant glass dish of apple crisp. It was still warm. We had a communal plastic fork that we were sharing. I was still at work. My kids had just gotten off the bus and were eyeballing the dessert that they caught me eating. Immediately following was a choir of “I want some! I want some!” So here we stood next to a desk in the office eating apple crisp together.

The crisp was an impromptu gift from a friend. She had received an abundance of apples and was trying to figure out what to do with them all. She had made a bunch of these delicious pans and was messaging various friends to find out if they would like some. I happened to be one of the lucky recipients. My kids were beyond excited. We took the giant pan home and proceeded to eat off it for the next few days. I never make apple crisp, so it truly was a treat having this delicacy in our home.

Recently, the air in my van went out. It would not have been such a big deal if it were not winter. Not so much for how cold my vehicle was, but because I needed the air to defrost my windshield and keep it from fogging over. I put a shoutout online to see which mechanics in town were trusted in this field. I received a ton of positive feedback. This gave me hope that it would be an easy fix with a quality service technician.

That same day I received not one but two private messages from friends letting me know that they could look at my van and potentially fix the problem. This would allow my van to get repaired much sooner than if I would have to schedule an appointment and wait to take it in. Obviously, it would also save me a bit of money as well.

This is not the first time my friends have been angels, sent to answer my prayers. In fact, it’s not even my first column on the subject. I am continually amazed by how frequently my friends are prompted to act and actually do it. How they get a whisper to make extra food or send a quick text. I think we all feel nudged to do things, but often we ignore it. Often we think, “Oh that’s dumb” and just shew the thought away.

I think it is imperative to recognize that sometimes these thoughts aren’t our own. I truly believe that our Father in Heaven knows us and loves. He is watching out for us. When our spirits are low and we can barely utter a prayer, he hears us. Sometimes it is a simple reminder that we are loved through the gift of apple crisp. Other times it’s a recognition of our financial concerns with a handy friend.

Keep praying friends. You are heard. Almost more importantly though, keep acting on those odd thoughts. When you feel the urge to call someone and you don’t know why, just pick up the phone and call them. When the thought crosses your mind to bring your neighbor some extra treats you made, walk them over. You never know what they’ve been praying for.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams.