The Faithfulness of God

The faithfulness and providence of God goes as far back in my life as I can remember. One example of this was the time I drove off from work with my purse on top of my car. I was working in San Diego and I lived about thirty minutes north of the city, in Escondido, Ca.
I got off work one afternoon, tired after a long day of selling pony beads and the newest thing in floral design; rubber flowers. (latex, if you want to be elegant about it).
I went out to my 1991 Ford Aerostar minivan and opened the door. I must have set my purse on the top and then just forgot about it. And then I drove away. Down the very busy highway 163 towards home and rest. (just for the record, remember that runaway tank in San Diego? the one you see on every single crazy car chase reality show on tv? that was the same highway. It is a major San Diego artery for traffic.)
Anyway, I got home, parked the van, and got out to go in the house. As I went in I realized I was a little light on the gear. Something was missing. I panicked as I thought back over the series of events in my head. After setting it on the car I didn't remember seeing my purse. I began to sweat as I did a mental inventory of all the things my purse contained. Basically my life. Credit cards, driver's license, money, and kid's pics. And my checkbook. You better believe I began praying like never before. "Lord, You are the finder of all things lost. I ask You now to bring my purse back to me, though I know it's against the odds, I believe You can do it. Amen. Then I waited. A half an hour went by. The phone rang. "Is this, uh, Julie? " "Yes, this is she", I replied, trying not to sound too anxious. I think my eyes were rolling back in my head with suspense, though. "Well, uh, I saw you drive off, and I saw your purse fall off of your car onto the side of the highway. I got out and I picked up all your stuff for you. It was scattered all over the road, but I think I got it all." "Wait a minute" I said. You mean you GOT OUT of your car on the side of highway 163 and picked up all my scattered stuff? I asked. "Yes, ma'am" was the answer.
I was dumbstruck. But there was more to come. "Do you work at Michael's?" He asked. "Why, yes, yes I do" I replied. "I work just across the sidewalk from you, in the train store directly opposite Michael's, in the same mall. I'll have it for you tomorrow, just step on over (about twenty feet from my store front) and pick it up." If I was speechless before I was absolutely astounded now. I was profuse in my thanks to the stranger who had gone out of his way, WAY out of his way, to help somebody else.
I stepped into the little railroad hobby shop the next day and met the stranger who had been so kind. Again I thanked him. Later as I went through the contents of my purse I realized that he had retrieved every single thing that had been in my purse, right down to the coupons for the grocery store. Every dollar was there. All my credit cards, my driver's license. My kids pictures. Completely intact. Even the checkbook he had used to get my phone number. Tears overwhelmed me then and threaten to spill over now as I remember the kindness of a stranger and the faithfulness of a God who would love me so much that he would answer my heartfelt prayer in such a miraculous way. Things like that are just not supposed to happen. But they did, and they still do, because we serve a miraculous, loving God, who is faithful to us to the end. And beyond.