The Denver Post used to have a feature in the Sunday Lifestyles section of the newspaper where readers could submit essays for publication. On Halloween 1999, I opened my paper and discovered an essay I had written and submitted, entitled “Cereal Manifesto”.
It was about how I was going to let my two-year-old daughter (now ten) eat sugary cereals occasionally. It was frowned upon in my social circle and I was tired of being judged for liking The Captain and His Magical Berries imbued with Crunch.
My late-Grandma Alice was very proud it was published. She was always my biggest writing cheerleader/butt kicker and often found clever ways to keep me going.
That Christmas, she presented me with a box of Cocoa Puffs, which she purchased for herself. After one bowl of the brown bombs, she decided she’d had enough. She had gone nearly 84 years without consuming kiddie cereal until my essay came along, so she was passing on the remainder of the box to me.
I took it home and put it in the cupboard for a rainy day.
Early in January, we had a downpour. My husband came home from work on his first day back after the holidays with the shocking news he lost his job. The job was a source of extreme stress and aggravation so an emotional burden had been lifted, but we were scared. I was pregnant with Sam. We had two little ones. What would we do?
The next morning, I recalled the Cocoa Puffs in the cupboard. Let’s eat those for fun!
My husband opened the box. Tucked on top of the wax paper bag was a handwritten note from my grandmother.
“Don’t worry about the future. I have everything under control. Love, God.”
The ballpoint-blue unwavering script on torn notebook paper was a miracle of timing. The note was taped on our computer monitor during what turned out to be two jobless months.
I know what God’s handwriting looks like.
What a lovely post, and a wonderful reminder that God has perfect timing.
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This was a touching post. Got me a little choked up. What a miracle of timing.
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God’s timing is always perfect.
Amazing story, Gretchen. Thanks for sharing that.
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Aww!! You’re just full of the heart-string pulling stories lately…and I’m enjoying every one!
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Precious.
Mary
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So, so sweet.
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What a wonderful story. How like the Lord!
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how do these incredible things keep happening to you. i have no incredible stories. or maybe i do, i just don’t pay attention.
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I love this post! How sweet that God used your grandma and a box of Cocoa Puffs to get you through a tough time. He is so creative, isn’t He?
Seeing God in everyday happenings is a great exercise in knowing that he loves and cares about every detail of our lives, but we can get busy and forget to look and listen. I am enjoying your remembrances of his provision and quidance.
I’ve wondered sometimes if most miracles – even, say, the parting of the Red Sea, are primarily miracles of timing.
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I love that story. I could see you pulling down the box with a smirk on your face too. . .
I love that story. So beautiful and perfect! What a great time to share it.
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You are a lovely writer. Keep up the good work. I found you through Sunday linkage, and I’m so glad I did. My children are older now, but my husband also lost his job when I had two others and a newborn. But, God did have everything under control.
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Very choked up over here. This was a beautiful reminder to me to obey God on those occasions when He will “randomly” suggest I drop someone a little note of Scripture and encouragement. Too often I put it on my to-do list and it never gets to-done. In the future, maybe I will remember this and let Him borrow my hand for a minute or two.
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I just found your site. You are such a marvelous writer, capturing the spirit of your message in your blog. It’s good to have reminders like these sometimes and wonderful when it is somebody loved that shows you the way, isn’t it?
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Wow, what a great story illustrating the ministry and power of writing, however humbly and spontaneously it may be penned.
God’s Divine Providence…stored up in a cereal box for the day you needed it.
Now I love Cocoa Puffs more than ever.
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That is incredible! I literally cheered YES! when I read that you found the note. My favorite line was “I know what God’s handwriting looks like.” Perfect ending to the story!
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Thanks for another great story. It really perked me up after a yucky day.
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Great story. I love your writing Mopsy.
Oh Gretchen, this really touched me today. I need to remember that grandmothers and their influences live on. And I vicariously got a note from God through you. Thanks.
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Just catching up on your blog, and man, this was such a great post. You have such talent Gretchen, true story telling ability. And yet such terrific stories to tell!
TFS!
JoAnn
I suspect the newspaper would run this essay as a follow-up piece.
Very nice!
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