Sandra just came by to get her dad's bike. It's been sitting in the shed for eight years and I'm grateful that she can use it. Don's helmet was hanging on the handlebar so she tried it on. We had a big laugh when it fell down over her eyes. "We knew no one could fill dad's shoes, I teased, but now we know no one can fill his helmet either."
"Mom, remember when we got our first bikes?" Sandra asked. "I was just thinking of that," I responded. "It's a time I'll never forget," I continued as we both drifted down memory lane. Valerie and Sandra were 5 and 7 and beginning to notice that every kid in the neighborhood had a bicycle except them. Don and I watched our girls stand on the sidelines while their friends rode their bikes. It made us very sad. Our pastorate in South Seattle barely provided for our basic needs.
One night Sandra was saying the blessing over the food. "And dear God, please let mom and dad want to buy me and Valerie a bike," she ended her prayer. My eyes locked with Don's across the dinner table and I could see the deep hurt he was feeling.
Our usual talkative family was quiet as the food was passed around. We began to eat in silence and then Don spoke softly, "Sandra, your mom and I want very much to buy you girls a bike but we do not have the money." He stood up and went over to the desk, coming back with a spiral notebook and pen. "This is our family's prayer book," Don began. "When we have a need we write it in this notebook asking God to provide for us."
"Why is some of the writing in red?" Valerie observed. "Those are the answers to our prayers," I responded. "When God meets our need, we write it in red so we can remember to thank Him."
Don took the pen and began to write in the notebook, "Dear God, Sandra and Valerie would really like to have a bike. If you know of one for them, please lead us to it. We give you thanks in advance." He closed the notebook and continued to eat his dinner.
About three days later I went to the mailbox to get the mail. Lying on top of the regular mail was an envelope with no stamp or address. It was blank except for the handwritten "Pastor Hintz" scrawled across the top. I went into the house and handed the envelope to Don. He opened it and out fell three $10.00 bills. There was no note or reason for the money. "What do you think that is for?" I asked. Without hesitation, Sandra shouted, "That's the money for our bikes." I glanced at Don and could read his thoughts. Thirty dollars wouldn't buy two bikes: besides, that money could provide some much needed groceries for our bare cupboards.
God saw the faith of those little girls and before the day was over, we had two very nice used bikes in our garage. God had opened my eyes to just the right ad in the newspaper. We acted on His leading, although the price advertised was twice the money we had available. He tendered the hearts of two teen-age girls who had outgrown their bikes. When they saw Sandra and Valerie's excitement they talked their dad into selling the bikes for the $30.00 God had given us. That day was the beginning of our girls understanding how much God truly cared for them.
As soon as we arrived home with the bikes, Sandra ran in and picked up the prayer book, along with the red pen. Our 7 yr. old had learned the importance of giving thanks after God answers prayer. As the girls grew, many times they witnessed God's provision and grace. We were hoping that when they became adults and faced tough times, they would have a storehouse of memories which would help them say as David did in Psalm 77:11, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord: yea, I will remember your miracles of long ago." Then maybe they too will head for the desk which holds their family's prayer book.
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