The Costume

“I don’t want to be in the show if I have to wear this. It is ugly and scratchy,” Jena announced as she got into my car. She threw the black sequined outfit into the backseat. I could see red scratch marks on her neck as she flopped into the passenger seat.

“Did the costume do that to your skin?”

“Yes,” she grumbled as she stared at the floor. “I look forward to the ice show every year because of the costumes we get to wear. If my costume doesn’t come in, I don’t want to be in the show. They told us today that our costumes probably won’t be here in time.”

I looked out over the steering wheel at the melting spring snow. Every year at the end of April she participated in an ice skating show. It was similar to a dance recital where the skating students were able to display the talents that they had perfected throughout the year. Most of the show was very theatrical with beautiful outfits and makeup. Because she had been skating for a few years, we were well versed in the routine of practices, picture day and dress rehearsal.

“You really don’t want to be in the show this year?”

“Not if I have to wear that thing!” Again, I grew quiet not knowing how to fix the problem.

“I guess there really is only one thing we can do, and that is pray. The Bible says that if two or more are in agreement over something, and we ask in His name, He will do it for us.”

I took her hand and asked the Lord to deliver the box that held her costume. It wasn’t a fancy prayer with a lot of words. It came from a mother’s heart who wanted to see her daughter happy. As I prayed with my eyes shut I saw a cardboard box with packing tape on it.

When I finished praying I said, “That’s all we can do, and now we just believe that it is going to get here on time.” She just nodded. Her disappointment still hung heavy in the car.

Throughout the week as I noticed her mood become somewhat cranky over the situation of the costume, I would remind her that we had to believe.

“We prayed. God can do anything.” It was like talking to a brick wall.

The following week after dropping her off at practice, I noticed the skating school director sitting in her office. She greeted me as I walked in.

“I heard about the missing costumes. Has anything come in yet?”

“This is the first time in all my years of being here that this has ever happened. We ordered the costumes in plenty of time, but the company lost our order. Now they are saying it is too late for them to ship them to us on time. But, just today, we got one box. Jena’s class will have theirs for the recital but no one else will.” Even when she said it, I had to have her repeat it.

“Can I see the costumes?”

“Sure. You can take Jena’s with you.” She walked over to a cardboard box and pulled out a beautiful sequined blue dress.

“She is going to be so happy,” I said as I took it from her.

“I don’t know how that one box got delivered to us. It is the only one.”

I held the dress up in front of me and said, “We prayed. It works!” She gave me a smile, but in her eyes I could see that she didn’t believe me.

It was with much joy that I handed my daughter her outfit for the recital. The reward of it, really, was to see her smile.

If someone were to ask me to give the definition of love, that story would be one of the examples I would share. My love for my daughter prompted me to pray, and heaven was quick to answer. How many times have we had a problem staring us down, and we have become so consumed by the problem that we forget that we have a heavenly Father who desires to be the solution? He stands by waiting while we unnecessarily wring our hands and go around telling everyone we encounter of our trouble. Soon, after expressing the frustration or fear over the issue multiple times, the problem now seems gigantic. Instead of going through all of that misery we inflict on ourselves, we should adhere to what it says in Matthew 6:8:

Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him. (NLT)

Here we are given the reassurance that before we utter a word, God has the answer to the problem. Instead of reacting like the world without a savior, immediately turn to the One who loves you. He is ready and able to help you with whatever you need. He cares about everything … even a skating costume.