“Hello?”

Linda turned from the shelves where she was stacking cans to find a plump elderly woman holding a large box.

“May I help you?”

The woman placed the box on the counter. “I baked a cake. I wanted to donate it.”

Linda glanced at Kendra, her fellow volunteer, who shrugged and turned back to her sorting.

“We don’t usually get fresh baked cakes,” Linda said.

“And that’s why I made one,” said the woman. “The good Lord put it into my head to bake a cake today, and told me to bring it to the food pantry, so here it is. I hope you’ll find the right person to give it to.” Her eyes told Linda she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Thank you for your generosity,” Linda said.

The woman smiled. “God bless you for the work you do here. I pray you’ll see His hand in your life today.” She turned and exited the food pantry.

“That was strange,” Kendra said. “I’ve never had anyone bring a cake here before.” She opened the box. “Oh, it’s lovely.”

Linda walked over to Kendra and peered inside the box. Inside was a beautifully decorated birthday cake covered in flowers in every color of the rainbow. Beside the cake lay a box of birthday candles and a pack of matches.

“Wow. Looks like she thought of everything.” Kendra closed the box and turned to greet the man who had just entered the pantry.

“I guess we’ll see if someone needs a cake today,” Linda said under her breath. Not likely. The usual folks would be in, just like always.

The day drew to a close with no other unusual donations. Kendra startled when her phone alarm went off. “Good thing I set that. I forgot to tell you I need to leave early for a dentist appointment. You ok closing up by yourself?”

Linda nodded, and Kendra hurried out the door. Linda had closed up before. The pantry would close in thirty minutes and she’d get home before dark. Driving after dark had become difficult the last few years, and she avoided it whenever possible.

The pantry was quiet now, and Linda finished organizing some of the donations that had been dropped off earlier in the day. The cake box sat on the shelf, forgotten. Linda grabbed her purse and keys, turned off all the lights, and locked the front door.

As she approached her car, something wasn’t quite right. Oh no. The back tire was flat. Linda’s shoulders slumped in defeat. She pulled out her phone, called AAA, and told them her problem and the address of the pantry.

“We’ll be out to help you as soon as we can, Ma’am, but we’re a bit backed up right now. It may be close to an hour before we can get there.”

An hour? Linda shivered against the cold wind. She dropped her phone back into her purse and headed back inside the pantry, crying out to God.

“God, I don’t understand. I spent all day helping people. Why would You allow me to have a flat tire and have to stay here so late? It will be so dark when I get home. Lord, You know I don’t drive well in the dark.”

Linda flipped all the lights back on and sat back down in her chair. Her feet hurt, she was tired, and all she wanted was to go home. Why would God do this to her?

After several minutes of feeling sorry for herself, the bell jangling on the front door surprised her. She glanced up to see a mother with three young children.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re still here. I prayed you’d still be open.”

Linda started to tell the young woman they were not open, but the look of desperation in her eyes changed her mind.

“What can I do for you?” Linda asked.

“I started a new job, but it’s not enough money. I don’t get paid until next week. I need something to get us through. I’ve tried to be as careful as I can with what we have, but by the time I pay someone to watch the girls, I don’t have much left.” She lowered her voice. “That’s been the story ever since their daddy left us.”

Linda’s heart softened. She could help this young family. She bent down to speak with the girls. “What would you like for dinner tonight?”

Two of the girls scurried behind their mother, but the middle girl stood her ground. “I like spaghetti. Do you have spaghetti?”

Tears sprang to Linda’s eyes. “Of course, we do.” She turned to the mother. Come in and pick out whatever you’d like.”

As the family picked out their food, Linda marveled at God’s timing. Without the flat tire, this family wouldn’t be eating tonight. Suddenly her feet no longer hurt. As the family finished collecting their food, the mother turned to Linda.

“You have no idea how much this means to me.” She called to the girls. “Can you carry something out to the car?” She gave each of the girls a small bag to carry, then turned back to Linda, lowering her voice. “I’m hoping they’re too young to understand. They think this is just a grocery store. I’m sorry if I’m keeping you here late, but today is Olivia’s birthday. I couldn’t bear it if I couldn’t make her a decent dinner on her birthday.”

The word birthday registered in Linda’s mind. “Wait here, I have one more thing for you.” She hurried over to the shelf and grabbed the cake box. “Take this. It was brought in earlier today just for Olivia.”

The mother opened the box and her eyes filled with tears. She set the box on the counter and grabbed Linda in a fierce hug. “You have no idea what this will mean to her. You are an angel.” She picked up the remaining bag, slung it over her shoulder, and took the box out to the car where the three girls stood.

Linda watched the young family drive away and wiped a tear from her eye. A moment later, a tow truck appeared. After a seemingly effortless swap of the tire with the spare, Linda was on her way home. Somehow driving after dark didn’t bother her at all.

Isaiah 58:10  

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Dear God, help us to see the needs around us and to focus less on ourselves. Help us to hear the promptings in our hearts, Lord. You don’t need us to help other people. You are capable of doing it Yourself, but You choose to allow us to be your hands and feet to bless us. Please open our hearts to what You would have us to do. When we focus on others, our problems don’t seem so big anymore. Thank You for giving us the opportunity to serve You by serving Your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.