Like every morning, I woke up my son for school. He walked sleepily with me to the bathroom, and I helped him wash his face. I handed him his toothbrush with toothpaste and asked him the routine question: “What is your uniform today?” My son, Eddie, has two sets of uniforms. For yoga and PT days, he wears his sports uniform, and on other days, he wears his regular uniform.
With drowsy eyes, he looked at me and replied, “Dada, today is Art period, so it’s Thursday, and it’s normal dress.” We continued with our usual morning rituals, and I drove him to school, giving him a goodbye kiss when I dropped him off.
I returned home and enjoyed my customary ginger tea. As I do every day, I went to my room for a short power nap. About five minutes later, my mom called me to inform me that Eddie’s art bag was left behind. She asked if he had art class that day. Suddenly, I remembered what my son had told me in the morning – he had forgotten his art bag. I quickly changed my clothes and decided to take it to him. My coveted power nap was sacrificed, but ensuring Eddie got his art bag on time was more important to me.
The art bag contained his drawing book and all the art supplies he needed for his two art class periods. Without it, I knew his teacher would make a note in his calendar, and more importantly, he’d have to sit idle for two periods while his friends worked on their creative artwork.
When I arrived at his school, I approached the receptionist and asked for help in delivering the art bag to my son’s classroom. She graciously informed me, “Sir, teachers have been complaining that students often forget their art bags, so we’ve decided not to assist unless they bring it themselves. If it were a lunchbox or water bottle, I would have gladly helped.” My heart sank a little, and I attempted to negotiate, but my efforts were in vain. Disappointed and saddened, I returned home and sipped my tea, pondering what to do.
Restless, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Eddie must be feeling during his art period. He had diligently prepared for his class but had simply forgotten to bring the art bag in the morning rush.
After some contemplation, I reached out to a teacher I knew at the school and waited for her response. She replied a few minutes later, telling me to bring the bag to the school gate, and she would ensure it reached my son. I eagerly awaited this message and immediately drove back to Eddie’s school, handing the bag to the teacher along with his class and division details.
When I picked Eddie up from school later, I could see the joy on his face. I asked him how he got his art bag, and he said, “The teacher came to my class and said someone gave this to you.” Then he added, “Dada, I knew it was you,” and hugged me tightly, saying, “Thank you.”
God speaks to me…
Dear friends, as I drove back from the school after delivering the art bag, a Bible verse came to mind: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In the Holy Bible, Hebrews 13:5 states, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” Deuteronomy 31:8 also reassures us, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
As an earthly father, if I was so concerned for my son, how much more would our heavenly Father be for us? Despite my son’s mistake of forgetting his art bag, I made every effort to ensure he received it. If this is the case, consider how much more our Father in heaven would do for us.
- We may make mistakes and sin, but we are His children. Our heavenly Father will never abandon us in the midst of our challenges and difficult times.
- Although there may be delays in receiving what we need in our lives, our heavenly Father, who knows our needs, will provide in His perfect time.
- Just as an earthly father cares for his child and goes to great lengths to protect and provide for them, our heavenly Father would do the same. He will never leave us to face embarrassment and rejection alone. Remember, He is always there.
No matter the storms, thunder, or floods you face, God is right there beside you. He assures us, “I am with you always,” and if God is with us, who can be against us?
