I was running late for my first meeting. I needed to finish dressing and put makeup on. I had not yet eaten breakfast, and the clock was ticking faster than I wanted. The dog followed me around, insisting he needed to go outside when I knew he did not. Yet, what if he did?

I got myself ready and opted for cold cereal, because it would be quick. I poured the no-sugar-no-fun flakes into a bowl, then added fresh berries and milk. I stood at the kitchen island and began to eat while considering all I had left to do before I pulled my car out of the garage. I thought, why stand here eating when I could let the dog out with cereal in hand? (Two birds, one stone.) I mused because I would never walk around eating, yet I needed to save time.

When the dog came in, after doing nothing but sniff the air, I went to my jewelry box in the bedroom. It sits on a mirror-backed chest of drawers. There was a nice, flat, square box from the shower squeegee I recently bought sitting there. I thought it would be an excellent spot to set my bowl down while I looked for earrings and a necklace to match my coral linen top.

I lowered my hand to set the bowl on the box, and it flew out of my hand like someone had taken it and thrown it. Milk, cereal, and berries splashed against the mirror and all over the top of the dresser. I’m now glad for the mirror blocking the mess from going down the back of the furniture, though milk settled into every bit of molding. 

Already running behind, I resigned myself to being late, though I still felt the stress of it. I found a rag towel and began to mop the spilled cereal into the waste bin. Once clean and dry, I found my jewelry, toasted a whole-wheat English muffin, and headed for the car.

While on the way to my first meeting, a prayer meeting at church, driving through the lush farmland, occasionally honking at birds to get out of the road, I began to take stock. I thought about how well I usually handle stress and wondered what was different. My second meeting is a new volunteer opportunity, and though I am nervous about it, I realized something else. I handle stress well because I have built a stress-free life, not because I have matured so much as a Christian.

I came around a sharp bend to see what looked like a large gray cat walking off the road. Then, I thought, that is not a cat! I thrill at the sight of wildlife. It is probably a callback to country drives with my dad when I was little. I thought it might be a fox, an animal I have never seen in person. I slowed to see what it was, and it stopped and turned toward me to see if I was a threat. There it was, perfectly posed, its bushy gray tail toward me and head turned to look at me—a perfect postcard moment.

I was undone at the kindness of the Lord. I was convicted. I repented of avoiding busyness to manage stress, and of fooling myself into thinking it was maturity. While there is wisdom in keeping a schedule one can manage, it is not proof of overcoming the flesh.

When I saw the fox and knew it was a gift from my Father, I melted. I did so because even though I was not at my best, He is still. He showed up in my chaos with a sweet gift, and He knew how it would impact me.

When He brings His love and goodness in the midst of our chaos, we are reminded to slow down, take a breath, and remember He is, and He is good. Whatever we are experiencing in the moment does not compare to the joy and glory that awaits us. (2 Corinthians 4:17) Watch for gifts along the way.

“The goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4b NKJV