Little Black Umbrella
Mood:  silly
Topic: God Answers Prayer


"Oh, excuse me!," I exclaimed at the same time another lady said,"Oh, I'm sorry," as we halted briefly to accommodate each other's umbrellas to cross the street.

It was definitely a day of umbrella jams in a place where there are so many people are rushing down the sidewalks and across the streets.

At times, the wind threatened to challenge us brave water sloshers for our umbrellas and invert to collect water instead of keeping us dry.

I'm so thankful for my little black umbrella on a day like today when I wish I had duck feathers or something.

My little black umbrella goes with my black gloves, which go with my black leather coat, that my Daddy (Abba) gave me. Yes. There is a point to all this. A most unusual one.

A couple of weeks ago I got really soaked on more than one day while out in such weather as today. So, over a week ago I was talking to Abba, and I said, "Lord, I would really like to have a long black leather coat so I won't get soaked when it rains." Then I forgot about it.

A few days later, a man at a church was helping me sort through some things in a closet. Suddenly, he asked, "Do you need a coat?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed in surprise. "As a matter of fact, I do."

"Here. Try this on," he said, tossing a garment towards me. I was amazed to see an expensive looking long black leather coat land in my arms. Quickly, I tried it on. A bit large, I thought, but it will do. And "do", it did! Because I was able to layer clothing under it for the blustery October weather here that I'm not used to getting until around December down South.

One day soon after this, I mentioned to a friend that I was planning to buy some black gloves to go with my coat. Surprised again! She happened to have purchased two identical sets of black gloves and only wanted one of them. So she gave me one.

Then one morning during one of my talks with my Lord, I said, "Lord, I would not mind having a little black umbrella to go with my coat." I didn't feel the need for a large one anymore. All I needed to shield from the rain now that I had a leather coat was my head. Besides, the navy umbrella I had was too large to carry on such crowded sidewalks. And it was damaged.

On wet afternoon soon after, I was sitting in a beautiful park under a patio umbrella. One of the park security officers was standing near me talking to me when a man approached us. He joined the conversation and handed me a little black umbrella. "Here, you can have this," he said.

"Oh, I have one. Thank you," I responded, thinking he looked like he needed it worse than I did.

"You keep it. I have a lot of them," he insisted. I gave him the same reply.

Again he insisted. Then I looked and noticed he actually did have another umbrella with him. "Okay," I said. "Thanks. Thanks a lot!"

Isn't our Daddy in Heaven great? He cares about the little things we want and need. Even a coordinating coat with gloves and umbrella. ! Now, for those black leather boots... :)