Loved Beyond Measure

Let me preface this before I begin the story: God doesn't always work this way. Now, with that caveat, listen to my little miracle.

My Mom is a gorgeous and sweet woman. She is quiet and gentle and totally NOT materialistic. She has lovely blue grey eyes and white hair and looks stunning in the color teal. She knows this, and teal has always been her favorite color for clothes. Her birthday is quite appropriately on Valentine's Day.

I went shopping a few weeks ago looking for a teal something or other for her birthday. I could not believe my eyes when I saw a teal jacket, the absolute perfect shade of teal. It had everything she loves -  zip front, pockets, and elegant simple lines. It shouted "MOM!" to me. I snagged it. It was the only one and was a Petite Medium. My Mom is thin, but not necessarily petite. Still, I tried it on, tried to gauge Mom's size to me, and decided it would fit. It would have to fit! I mailed it with breathless expectation of joy.

On Valentine's Day, I called, anxious to hear what she thought of her gift.
"I opened the most beautiful gift today," she said, "A gorgeous jacket, just the right color...but alas...it is too small."
I was broken hearted, particularly because I had been so certain that jacket had been expressly made for my mother.

There was a 50% off coupon for the store where I had gotten the jacket in my inbox today. I deleted it, remembering the jacket had been the only one like it on the rack. Then, I decided I had a quiet day anyway...may as well go look for the jacket...just in case.

I went to the store and prowled through the racks. And then, I saw it! The jacket! The same lovely jacket! I snatched it off the rack and checked the size: petite small. I almost cried. Too small. God had teased me with the perfect jacket and then ripped it right out of my hands...again.

I scoured the whole rack and all the racks nearby. No more jackets.

Then I did something I don't do often when shopping. I bowed my head and I prayed:
"Dear Lord, my mother loved that jacket. And it was so beautiful, as though it were made for her. Please let there be one more jacket, a petite large."

I opened my eyes and turned to the rack in front of me. There was the teal jacket, a petite large.

I called my parents instantly. Mom felt certain this one would fit. And Dad was ecstatic, now admitting that Mom had been very disappointed when the beautiful jacket, just the right color and perfect in every way had not fit.

I had done a Bible study with my daughter that day about how God not only provides our needs, but more often than not, even our desires. God is never stingy in His love. I know that sometimes we become confused over what we need, and even think we need things that are indeed harmful to us. God always desires to give us what is BEST.  I am thinking God's message today was to my mother, reminding her that she is loved beyond measure, and not only by her daughter.

(PS- I found the 50% coupon on my smart phone so not only was the jacket perfect...it was on sale.)

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Psalm 57: 9-10
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

Ephesians 2: 4-10
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.