Early last December I learned that the Broadway musical, “Beauty and the Beast” would be playing in our city’s performing arts center the end of February. I knew my daughter would love to see the production and planned to get tickets. But I procrastinated, so much so that when I attempted to buy them in the latter part of January, both performances had sold out.
Not to be defeated, I went to craigslist to see if anyone had purchased tickets they didn’t need. I found the usual assortment of dealers wanting to scalp the public. One owner said she’d accept offers for two tickets, but when pressed, her price was twice what the theater would have charged me.
I didn’t want to pay double, so I stopped my search and prayed. “Lord, I would love to find some tickets, but no performance is worth that. I leave the matter with you.”
Then I promptly forgot all about it.
I didn’t think about the performance again until Monday of this week, realizing that I’d never searched any more for tickets and the musical would be performed Tuesday and Wednesday. I thought I’d look again after my morning workout, just in case there were some last minute sellouts.
But as I was stretching, this needling voice in my head said, “Go to Craigslist NOW.”
Sure, sure. I’ll get there in a while.
“NO. Go to Craigslist Now.”
I got up off the floor, and went to the computer. To my disbelief and delight, there were three tickets available for the same price I would have paid at the theater in December. I called the woman to see if they’d sold yet. They hadn’t.
We made arrangements to meet that evening after she got off work. I fretted all day, thinking she’d probably get other offers, and someone would pay her before we connected. I arrived at the meeting place we’d agreed upon and waited. Fifteen minutes passed, then twenty. My earlier fears were coming true. I dialed her number and left a message on her voice mail. Within seconds, she called back and explained she’d had to work late. Was I still there? She’d be there in ten minutes.
She showed. Not only did I have my tickets, I had a renewed faith in a God that is involved in the details of my life. He remembered my prayer, even though I had forgotten. He fulfilled my request and made certain I knew it.
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
By the way, Beauty and the Beast was magical—beyond all my expectations. But then, what did I expect? God made sure I was there.
Great story, Pat! I love how God cares about the little things in our lives as well as the big stuff.
Yes, I’ve been amazed at how God has answered “little” needs in mylife as we as the bigger needs.
Ann Gaylia