The Jacket

Sometimes through life’s little tests, we find a bigger message and greater strength.

It was a Tuesday morning, and I knew it was going to be a busy one. I grabbed my stuff in a hurry and bundled up before heading out the door to catch the bus. It was pretty much the coldest day we had yet this winter and I was not looking forward to my walk to and from school. I had made it to school in time and rushed to and from each of my classes per usual as I only have 10 minutes in between to take a bathroom break or get a coffee etc. Amidst the chaos of the day, I had put my jacket down and either forgotten to pick it back up or someone snatched it when I wasn’t paying attention (still cant remember where exactly it went missing). I didnt even realize my jacket was missing until the end of my last class when I was preparing to bundle back up to go outside. At first I didnt feel worried, as it was clearly just hanging on the back of my chair in one of my classes…well so I thought. It wasnt until I had searched through every class..talked to every prof and looked in every bathroom, meeting room and all of the lost and founds in the entire university, that I had realized it was actually gone, and most likely stolen, considering no one had turned it in. I was starting to get upset by this point as I didnt have a jacket to wear home and it just happened to be one of the coldest days of the year.

So, after admitting defeat, I gave up the search and decided to go run it off at the gym with my friend Steph. I had told her what had happened and she felt pretty upset for me also, especially since I had a theft incident during my birthday not to long ago. I just remember running on the tread mill and talking to god, asking him why this was happening to me again…why are people stealing from me? I felt so much anger build up in me…how could someone be so heartless and steal someone’s jacket on the coldest day of the year? Not to mention it was my only warm winter jacket, and it was quite pricy too. I felt that the jacket was irreplaceable and didn’t want another jacket, I just wanted my old one back.

So after our workout, Steph offered me a ride home, which I definitely needed at that point. When I got in the car, she said she had something that would help to cheer me up. She then handed me a gift certificate to winners . At first I said no way and that she should keep the gc for herself, but after much debate, she had finally convinced me to accept the gift. So with that, we drove to winners to look for a new winter jacket for me.
We started in the main section and looked through all the jackets. There were a few that were ok, and would have been good enough to get me through the many cold days ahead. Then we decided to look in the junior section to see what jackets were over there. Again, no real luck as the selection was pretty picked over. But out of the corner of my eye, sitting off to the side on a completely different rack, was a jacket that looked very similar to mine, in fact, it looked just like my jacket. I walked closer and couldn’t believe my eyes…it was basically the exact same jacket mine that had been stolen. I called Steph over, and we both were speechless. I couldn’t believe it,  I never in a million years would have thought winners would have carried that brand name as it was only a few years old. Oh and it also just happened to be on sale too. So without hesitation, I bought the jacket, and with the help of Stephs kindness, and got my jacket back.
I remember getting home and sitting down on my couch in disbelief at the days events. I mean, what are the odds that the same jacket would be at winners, at that time, on sale and sticking out off to the side of the other jackets, waiting for me to see it. I feel god was telling me that he heard my cries and that although he couldn’t stop that person from stealing my jacket (as he wants us to have free will), he could certainly work his miracles to undo the damage that had been done. He certainly is a loving and caring god. It’s amazing how he cares so much for us that he even cares about every detail in our lives, no matter how big or small.
  
I know it may seem silly to some to make such a big deal over just a jacket, but it was more than that, it was the message behind it. I think I needed to experience that that day to truly understand the power God can have in our lives if we let him. He can turn any negative or desperate situation into a positive one. I feel that I grew stronger in faith that day, and will never doubt that he is with us always… in all ways.
Praise God!!

Tiffany M
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Genesis 50:20 “What the enemy mean for bad God intended for good, to accomplish what is being done”
Sometimes we have to go through situtations like these before we wake up to the reality that only God is in control. When we do wake up to this reality, we let go of the Why’s? and the What if’s? and simply turn to God. Only then can we enter into the grace of God and recieve understanding and the precious gifts He has in store for us. Praise God for friends like Steph who see a gift certificate or money as seed to plant in other peoples lives. What a beautiful example of how God’s love works. Sometimes he calls us to give, and other times we are the ones to recieve. God intended this situation for Good, to accomplish what is being done now. What is being done now? When Tiffany saw that Jacket, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had his hand in this whole thing. This was no coincidence, rather this was Gods way of increasing the faith of Steph and Tiff and those of you reading this today. This blog was part of Gods plan, to spread the news to each and every one of us to remind us that He cares about us, and that His plan for your life is bigger and better than you can imagine. Like Tiffany, I hope your faith grows a little bit stronger today after reading her testimony and you are reminded that Gods plan is always intended for the good of those who love him. (Rom 8:28)
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