I was eight months pregnant with Tabitha when the royals, William and Kate, had their royal baby. At the time I was nesting and trying to carve out a space in our house for the new baby. Babies don’t really need very much, but the one thing I really needed was a new dresser to put the baby’s clothes in. We were already short on dressers, only having two (and a half) dressers for five people, and I didn’t know where I was going to squeeze in more clothes. I really wanted to buy one but we have been trying to stay on a strict budget and there was no extra money for a dresser. I’d been asking around if people had extra ones they wanted to get rid of and checking cragislist for free or very cheap ones, but nothing had come up. I decided to make do by just putting some of her clothes in a basket on my nightstand.
As I read the news about William and Kate’s baby I couldn’t help but be a little jealous. “It just isn’t fair,” I told myself, “I bet they have a dresser for their baby, probably even three or four. Why does my baby only get a basket?” In that moment it seemed supremely unfair to me that I was not a princess and that I didn’t have royally rich parents who could buy my baby whatever I wanted.
Then I remembered something that my beautiful friend Felice wrote on her blog:
“Lately I have been realizing that I do have a rich dad–he owns the whole world. And when your dad is rich, you don’t really have to worry. He can support me, but only if I let him.”
There isn’t anyone I know who is better at trusting the Lord than my friend Felice. She has taught me so much about turning your life over to the Lord and letting Him support you. So the truth of her words really resonated with my heart.
It is so easy to forget that, as a literal child of God, I really am a princess and I do have royally rich parents. In fact, their riches make the combined wealth of all the billionaires, nations, and stock markets in the world look like pocket change.
Felice’s words reminded me that if I wanted– or needed– a dresser that all I had to do was ask my Dad for one and be patient.
So I asked.
But nothing came.
Then two weeks after Tabitha was born Jon suggested we take a family drive to “the beach” ( a big sandbar by the river). I was still in the “wear PJs all day” stage of my postpartum recovery and so Jon wasn’t expecting me to go. Yet, for some reason going sounded like a really good idea. So I changed out of my PJs, we loaded up the kids into the car, and headed out to the beach.
On the way home we drove past a house and there, out on the curb, was my dresser. I screamed in joy and made Jon stop. It was free and so we loaded it up right then and there and took it home.
It is sort of ugly, but it is in really good condition. A coat or two of paint and it will be exactly what I wanted.
I know that some people would just call this a happy coincidence or good luck… and perhaps it was.
Yet I can’t help but feel that it was a gift from my Dad. A Dad who knows, perfectly, what I need and what I want. A Dad who controls the elements, determines the fate of nations, and holds the universe in the palm of His hands. A Dad who is capable of taking care of me, and providing for every desire of my heart, if I will only allow Him to.
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you,
that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Luke 12:27-28
I have been getting the dresser ready to paint and working on it is bringing me a lot of joy. It is a sweet reminder to me that God knows me and listens to my prayers. And if He listens to me about something as seemingly insignificant as an extra dresser, how much more does He listen when my needs are really significant?
Remembering this has helped me learn to let go. To let go of my preconceived notions about what I need and what I want and to trust God. It is sometimes scary and but I am– slowly– learning that He knows what I need better than I do.
And let me tell you, there are some real perks of having a rich Dad.
So don’t be afraid to ask.
Beautiful. I think it is often in my state of need that I see the tender mercies of the Lord more clearly.
I love this perspective and reminder. Thanks so much for sharing!
What a wonderful reminder. Thank you.
What an amazing simple experience! Whenever I have troubling thoughts the song "Be Still My Soul" comes to my mind. I just have to remember that the Lord is on my side. Have fun giving the dresser a makeover! 🙂
This reminds me of a conversation I had with my 6 yr old the other day. He asked me a question about people seeing God, and so we were discussing different times in the scriptures when people actually saw God. I was telling him the story of the Brother of Jared, and I was struck by his faith. I have heard that story a million times, and I always think, "We need to have faith like the Brother of Jared". This time however, I thought that I almost never think of the Lord literally touching my problems to help me resolve them. He is RIGHT there, on the other side of the veil, just waiting to help us. If I have the faith to see that, I will be able to, "see his finger", even if I don't get an actual physical manifestation. We are moving back to Provo in three weeks (agh! Must get packing!) but I have seen that care for us time and again as we have been preparing to move. It's awesome having a rich dad. 🙂
That dresser is perfect! You always lift me up 🙂
I love this! It really struck a chord in my heart, having had similar, yet different, experiences. He has a way of giving us those things that will touch our hearts, whether they are physical "things", spiritual things, or those tender mercies that touch our emotions.
YES! I got a free piano this way once. I asked God to send me a piano and a few days later my friend saw a free one on the side of her road and called me. 🙂
We've had this happen too! My piano teacher told my mom once that if you need a piano, just pray for one! She was so serious and sincere that my parents took her advice. Sure enough, someone at church announced that they had a piano they didn't want and would give it away for free.
Yay!. Love you. I am teaching a Kundalini Yoga and Meditation series starting in 2 weeks that is all about prosperity–Or the way God views prosperity. I wish you could take it. But it is a little too soon post pardum. Maybe you can catch the recordings later. xo Sat Nam. Keep trying to call you but the darn time difference makes it often too late.
This is so perfect. I have a nearly identical story after I had my last baby. We needed a dresser. No money. Etc. One day I felt a strong prompting to look in the free section on Craigslist. I'd never even thought of that before. I got the exact dresser I needed. 9 drawers and it fit perfectly on the wall.
We've got a Rich Dad indeed 🙂
Heather, I love this! It is so wonderful when we discover that He answers our prayers, however insignificant they seem. A few weeks ago, I was so sick with a fever and just needed sleep. So I prayed that my baby would sleep for a long time – he slept ten hours straight for the first time that night! I was so grateful.
I love this! Thank you for the reminder that we do indeed have a very rich dad. We had a dresser blessing too with our new baby. After looking on craigslist and ksl I got an email from my ward mass email group that someone in the ward was giving away a nine drawer dresser for free. So we snatched it up and I painted it a happy yellow. A huge blessing for us too! I'd love to see what you do with yours.
When I had my 4th baby, finances were very tight due to medical issues. My old rocking chair had been infested with mice while in storage so I didn't have one and knew we couldn't afford one, even a cheap one. I hadn't told anyone that I wanted or needed one. Not even my husband. Just a week or so before I delivered, one of my visiting teachers called and asked if I might want a rocking chair because she had one she was getting rid of. I sobbed when I hung up the phone. I knew the Lord had heard that quiet prayer in my heart. Such a beautiful feeling.
I love these kinds of stories. I have quite the collection of them myself! My most recent was coming up with halloween costumes from the stuff I already had. They turned out so beautifully! You might also like this story: http://millingtontendermercies.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-story-about-van.html
I love the tender mercies the Lord sees fit to bless us with! Thank you for this beautiful reminder – I love this perspective!