God, chips and a shampoo

By Julia Fernandes

June 24, 2011

This incident happened two days ago. While packing my bags to leave office I realized I had forgotten to purchase from Virar station my banana chips which I usually carry to snack in the train. Being a prudent person that I am, and added to the fact that my home is a good two hours away from my work place, I always make sure that my bag is well-stocked with all the snack items that I need. I don’t leave anything to chance.

So, I was highly distressed when I peeped into my bag and realized that I did not have my favourite chips. With a heavy heart, I left my office and all along the brief bus journey I kept wondering what am I going to eat now? These chips are not available anywhere among all the shops at and near Churchgate station, the place where I would be boarding to catch my train. And there was no way I would eat anything else. With this trail of thoughts running in my mind, I got down from the bus.

Suddenly, my eyes fell on a nondescript shop selling soft drinks just outside Churchgate station. Something looked familiar there. I went close and lo -- my favourite banana chips was stock piled! I just couldn’t believe my sight. I don’t think in all these years I ever looked at this shop leave alone stopped by.

But on that particular day God took care of my smallest need. Among all the billion cares in the world, God made sure that one girl who is distraught at not getting her chips will find her favourite chips at the most unusual place. I am sure I did not pray, yet God provided. He answered a prayer that I never made!

Yesterday, when I reached home after work, I planned to wash my hair but I could not locate the sachet of shampoo that I had bought for myself a few days back. I was a bit upset when I learnt that my mom used it in addition to the two sachets my brother bought for her. Incidentally, she had washed her hair yesterday! I rummaged through my belongings to see if, maybe, I could find just one sachet. But no luck!

I took my clothes and I limped to the bathing room wondering how I am going to wash my hair? The three used sachets were lying aside. Listlessly, I picked up the first sachet; it was squeezed to the end, the second one shared the same fate too. When I touched the third sachet, I could feel a soft lump. There was little shampoo left inside and I know my mom, she never ever wastes shampoo. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see some leftover shampoo. I squeezed the sachet and a tiny blob of shampoo rested on my palm.

I wondered how this miniscule amount of shampoo would be sufficient for my thick long hair since I usually need two sachets. Nevertheless, I began washing my hair and wonder of wonders -- that little shampoo proved miraculously more than sufficient to wash my long hair. I am sure I did not pray, yet, once again, God made provision for my smallest need and only He could work the miracle of making that little shampoo adequate for my long hair.

If God can take care of our tiniest needs how much would He take care of our more critical needs? It is such a comforting thought to know that God is aware of our every small detail -- right from the amount of sugar we put in our tea/coffee to our favourite variety of ice-cream.

He has profiled us in every conceivable way and He is with us every moment creating little miracles in our lives. God reveals his love and care to us in the most unusual ways, as I learnt, sometimes in the form of chips in a remote shop or as a tiny blob of shampoo in a discarded sachet!