God Remembers Birthdays

After Heidi Walton read the psalmist's admonition to share God's faithfulness, she sent the following story that occurred when she and her husband Carl served as missionaries in Haiti.

"One of Carl's responsibilities was to collect mail, cargo and passengers from the airport twice per week. He was one of the MFI representatives, a mission organization that ministers by flying DC-3 planes throughout the Caribbean. Carl had clearance to board the plane to help with passengers and unload cargo. 

"On January 25, 1996, our older daughter turned nine and our youngest son turned six - they share the same birthday, three years apart. Making two birthday cakes had always been fun and challenging as our little ones had creative thoughts as to just how they would like their individual cakes decorated. That year they had not made any special request; I was left up to my imagination. I discovered the main challenge was the lack of powdered sugar to make the frosting. I hadn't planned enough in advance, to request that MFI fly in the necessary ingredient as none of the local stores carried it. Birthday-day arrived and the cakes had not been prepared! I left it with the Lord wondering how He would provide!?

"Occasionally, MFI would surprise missionaries by flying in some day-old bakery goods (donated by Publix grocery store) for which we were very appreciative. Their birthday 'just happened' to be on an MFI day. When Carl returned home from the airport, his face shone! He excitedly stated, 'You're not going to believe what was on that plane!'

"Wishfully speaking, I responded, 'A birthday cake!!?' He proceeded to bring in not just one decorated cake, but two and not just any decorations, but birthday decorations...one decorated for a girl and one for a boy! Never before, nor since have birthday cakes been on MFI's manifest.

"The children ran around the mission campus shouting, 'Jesus sent us birthday cakes!!' We enjoyed sharing God's miraculous provision of two sheet cakes with our fellow missionary families as we celebrated our God who delights in us.

"He knows our names, the hairs of our heads and, obviously, our birthdays!"

We praise You, Jesus, that when we leave things in Your hands, we are never disappointed.
"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).