The Desires of Our Hearts

I found out several days ago that there is a new farmer’s market opening in nearby Newkirk, and local authors (later expanded to Oklahoma authors) are invited to have a book table there. It sounded enticing, but I would need some kind of shelter in the open parking lot--tent, umbrella, or something. The only thing we could come up with was to borrow an umbrella table-picnic set my son had bought three or four years ago and was now in use by his mother-in-law to hold her plants.

I thought we would try a little further, so today we set out to see what might be found at mid-summer sales on lawn furniture. The first store didn’t have what we wanted (though the swing we had bought last month could be had at a greater bargain now!). We were directed to Lowe’s, and they had beautiful market umbrellas and tables, but, even reduced, were quite pricey. Discouraged, I was considering the borrowed equipment or to just not participate.

Then I remembered something else we had been looking for, something I had wanted for my birthday, but nobody could find. An umbrella clothesline. We’d since heard that Ace Hardware had them. Sure enough, they did, and I got one! “Look, Howard,” I said as I pointed to a display on the way to the check-out, “a butterfly net!” He had been wanting a net to scoop leaves, larvae or fish from his backyard pool. I knew I used to buy butterfly nets for my children and figured it would be a cheap alternative, but neither Walmart nor anyone else had them. And here was one for $1.79! It went in our basket.

Exiting the store, I practically ran into a display in the entry. “Party Poppers,” the label on several tall cartons read, showing a picture of an easy-setup party tent! Just what I needed, but still a little expensive. Then I noticed it had been reduced by 40%! This was really turning out to be my day! That would be much better than an umbrella, so it looks like I’ll be able to participate in the book event next week after all!

I love that about God. He knows just what we need, from something as small as a butterfly net, as mundane as a lowly clothesline (I got clothespins, too, and I’m positively excited!) to something as important as a market shelter--and He often has something better in mind! Life with Him is an exciting journey that is full of surprises!