No Wear Or Tear

Tonight I was thinking about our car seat. It’s our car seat we’ve had for quite a while. This car seat is special to me. It was given to me at my first baby shower. That baby shower at one point, seemed like it would never happen. That shower was for the baby I prayed 2 years for. Two years prior, my husband was in a place where he no longer thought he wanted children. I knew God had promised me a family so, for 2 years I prayed, believed, didn’t pressure him, and let God work. This car seat is what we brought my answer to prayer home in. This car seat is what we brought two more children home in. It’s been through a lot and it’s seen a lot but, praise God it hasn’t worn out!

This thought of not wearing out reminds me of the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 29 and the surrounding chapters, transition is taking place. Moses will die soon, Joshua will take his place, and they are about to cross over into the promised land. In verses 5 and 6 Moses says to the people, “For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but He provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God.”

For 40 years they wore the same clothes and shoes and they didn’t wear out! Just dwell on that. As an adult I’m still amazed at how quickly my things wear out and don’t even get me started on my kids things! Yet, for 40 years God took care of this detail that could easily get overlooked. God sustained this basic need faithfully for 40 years. As Moses reminded them of this, I wonder how many of them paused and simply said “Thank you.”

I realize there is and always will be something we can find to complain about. There is always something we wish we had or wish we had a newer version of. I can attest to this having had the same $25 prepaid phone for 2 years! Nevertheless then there are those “only by the grace of God” things, like our car seat.

I had to stop and thank God for this seat tonight. God has kept it going when there’s no way we had the money to replace it. He’s kept it going when 3 kids put their toys in it, are rough with it, play with the straps, and adjust the buckles. This seat is our kids Kryptonite! Although this seat continues to bless us, the real thought to grasp is “God has kept us.” He didn’t just keep a seat, He kept me. He continues to take care of me as my Father. He continues to keep things going I rarely give any thought to. He continues to care about all aspects of my life, not just my latest crisis. I’m challenged to stop looking around my place for things to add to my prayer list, and find things He’s already provided and say thank you. Thank you for caring Lord. Thank You for blessing me each and every day. Thank You for sustaining me because truth is, I don’t deserve it.

Take a moment to look around and find a few insignificant things God has provided and thank Him. Truly, it is significant. God is in the small and large provision. He is in the daily bread. There is always something to be thankful for whether it’s clothes that don’t wear or a car seat that has held three of the greatest gifts God has given me. We can always find a reason to say “Thank you.”