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It looks like summer, and the sun is getting closer to our expectation of what the season is about: HEAT. But as a local, I know this can change on a dime. I want to share with you an event that happened to me the other day and how it changed my perspective on God’s goodness and his presence in my life. I was in Marquette for a conference, and it ended early in the afternoon. My dishwasher at home was on its last legs. I had the repairman come twice to find out what was preventing my machine from working. One of the wonders of the machine age is the beloved dishwasher. My machine is several years old, and when I turn it on, it makes an awful grinding noise. It terrified me because I would have to adjust my kitchen tasks and actually wash the dishes. My husband reminded me in a sarcastic tone that you could wash the dishes by hand, “you know”. Why, oh why, did this terrify me? My modern homemaking expectations were agitated, causing high anxiety.

As I was in Marquette, I had to go by several large appliance stores. I thought I would stop and look at the cost of replacing my machine. I did find and buy a new machine; they were on sale, but a strange thing happened, and this is what I want this article to point out. I was exhausted from my meeting, and I had my credit cards in my wallet. I was going to pay for the flowers with my green card rather than my red one. I get points, though I don’t know what they’re for. Anyway, I was checking out, only realizing at the last moment that I had my green credit card and my red was missing. The card I had paid for the dishwasher on, was gone. My heart sank, my head fogged, and anxiety set in. Where had the red card gone? I had used it last at the grocery store. I had to go back to the grocery store and look for it. I was tired and cranky, I was sad, and I thought for a moment, Dear God, help me. Resigned to my fate of looking for the card at the grocery store, which by this time most likely had been picked up by someone who had already charged a million dollars on it. I was walking out of the store with plants and my green card. The cart rolled forward, and I was preparing for an awful and anxious late afternoon. The automatic doors closed behind me, and I was walking towards my car.

As I was moving towards the car, I heard one of the checkout girls calling my name. I turned to see Janice, whose name was on the tag on her uniform, smiling from ear to ear. “Here is your red card.” She triumphantly waved it in the air. I could hardly believe it. She said it had dropped to the floor in one of the aisles and someone had turned it in. For a moment, I was dumbfounded and delighted, unable to believe it had been found.

As I got into my car, plants and red and green cards safe in my possession, I thanked God. But beyond the thank-you was a realization that God is with us and has given each of us a Guardian angel who takes care of us. I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to my angel, for I could only believe that it was God through his angel, caring for me. Yes, God watches our lives. He must have known I was in a fragile state of exhaustion and prompted a good soul to return my red credit card to me. I saw all kinds of good things in this event. Not only is God’s angel watching over me, but also the card was found by an honest soul who returned it to customer service. From a day that was sliding into dismal and extended suffering of a lost credit card, to a wonderful blessing. A blessing not only of care but also the experience that there is goodness around us. Honesty was still alive. I started to drive back to the Copper Country, but instead of the aching anxiety of the final problems I may have to endure because of the lost card. I was celebrating the goodness of God and the goodness of someone who made my day celebratory. I was the recipient of another soul’s good behavior; God bless them. Thank you, Jesus, for your care and love you brought to the world. We are all connected and loved. Alleluia.

‘I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living.” ( Psalm 27: 13)