Prodigal: Work keeps you busy.
Me: Yes, but remember that it is a blessing too.
Prodigal: That is very true!
This is from Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels and Miracles by Amy Newmark
My husband had been out of work for months. We’d borrowed money from family members for groceries, gas and utilities. Bill collectors were calling every day and treating us as if we were criminals. Stress was eating away at our family.
One day, as I was driving to work, enjoying the silence and the beautiful Vermont spring scenery, I heard a voice. It said, “Turn on the radio.” Weird, but I did it. Then I listened as the voice on the radio told listeners about a contest the local shoe store was having. This was the last day to enter. They were also giving away free pieces of pizza. All you had to do was fill out an entry form and your could win a cruise to Bermuda and $25,000.
I decided to stop at the shoe store on my way home. My son would enjoy the pizza and I would enter the contest.
It was a busy day at work and I ended up forgetting about the shoe store. Then I heard the voice again: “Turn on the radio.” I did, and I heard the same announcement about the contest. I had one hour to get there.
What were the chances that I would hear a voice twice in one day telling me to listen to the radio so that I could hear the same pitch twice? I actually said out loud, “Thank you, God, for the reminder.” Then I drove to pick up my son. He was hot, tired and a bit cranky. He just wanted to go home, but he gave in when I told him about the pizza.
A storm was coming in when we got to the shoe store, and the radio personality who was conducting the contest outside the shoe store was packing up equipment when we got there. I quickly filled out the form he handed me. Then I drew a cross in the upper right hand corner of the small white square of paper and said a silent prayer.
By that time, the pizza was all gone, my son was disappointed and it had started to rain. We drove home.
That night, as we were all catching up on how our days went, I mentioned what I had done all the way home. My husband was a bit perplexed, as I didn’t normally participate in contests.
I explained about the voice and my family looked at me like I had two heads. I warned them, directing my comment to my husband: “When my name is called tomorrow, I won’t be able to hear it as I will be walking across the street to my job. Would you be able to listen for me and let me know?” He had a funny look on his face and said, “When your name is called?”
I laughed, stunned that I had said that and used the Angels in the Outfield movie quote, “It could happen,” in my defense. I didn’t think anymore of it.
My husband didn’t call me the next morning, but a co worker excitedly ran over to me when she got to work and said, “Kris, the radio station just called your name–you won the cruise to Bermuda!”
I was floored. I don’t win things. My life had been hard lately. I get seasick on boats. I didn’t know what I was going to do with the trip. I didn’t know if I was on a timer to call back, so I called the radio station to confirm they actually called my name and sure enough, I won the trip! Because I won for my local station, the station was entering my name into the second contest nationally to win a gift card for $25,000.
I didn’t think any more of it. I didn’t hear any more voices.
Two weeks later I was sitting in a meeting with someone I supervise and the phone rang. During meetings, I typically ignore the phone but I had the sudden urge to pick it up. I apologized. It was the DJ from the radio station. I had won the $25,000 gift card!
We were able to pay back my family and get the bill collectors off our backs.
Daniel 6:11
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
