(This took place years ago, but I’ll never forget it, and I thought you’d like it as well!)

My 9-year old son and I were reading books together for his first Reading Olympics, a program where kids read from a list of 45 books, and then participate in a quiz competition about those books. Because I’ll use any excuse I can get to read, I read many of the books with my son.

As the big day approached, we talked about the competition. The children would gather after school to have a pizza dinner before taking the bus to the event.

My son asked “Mommy, are you going to the pizza party with me?”

“No, that’s just for the kids and teachers. Parents don’t go to that.”

“But you’ll ride the bus with me, right?”

My heart started to sink. “No, that’s not for the parents, either, sweetie. But I’ll be there cheering you on the whole time.”

He looked up at me with wide eyes. “You’ll help me during the competition, though, right?”

My heart sank further. “I’m not allowed to help you. You have to answer the questions with your team.”

“Oh.” His forehead crinkled. “Then why did you read all those books?”

I told him it was much more fun to listen to the questions if I could play along quietly from the sidelines.

He seemed to understand, and we finished the book we were reading.

When competition day arrived, I wished him luck, and promised to meet him at the school where the Reading Olympics was held. I left in plenty of time, but hit major traffic on the way. Sitting on the road, my patience started to wear thin. I prayed and prayed. “God, please let me get there on time. You know how much this means to my son. He wants me to be there for him, and I want to be there, too.”

God knows how precious my kids are to me. As a working mom, I struggle sometimes with balancing everything, but God has always allowed me to be there for the important times. This was one of those times. Still, there was no miraculous Red Sea parting of the traffic. I crept along with everyone else. Finally, the school was in sight, but I was late. Still, I found a parking spot and ran as fast as I could to the front of the school, hoping I could find out which classroom my son’s team was assigned to for the first round.

As I turned the corner and came up to the front doors of the school, I noticed a bus letting children off. I screeched to a halt in front of the bus doors, and at that very moment, out walked my son, with a huge smile on his face. The bus had been caught in the same traffic. We walked to the classroom together, and I marveled at God’s timing. He put me there at the exact moment my son arrived, so as soon as he got off the bus, he saw his mommy’s face.

At that moment, I saw my Father’s face as well.

God tells us in Luke 12: 6-7

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

If God cares enough to take care of the sparrows and even cares enough to know how many hairs are on our heads, of course He cares about what matters to us.

God is good. All the time.