Matthew2

It's Christmasunlike any Christmas I have ever known. No ice, no snow, no galoshes, and no ski suits. We are in our shorts and T-shirts; the streets are filled with people with bright faces and free spirits. I'm on the West coast, 3,000 miles away from my relatives, with my two lovely daughters. No grandma, no aunts, no uncles, and no husband.
As I decorate the fichus tree in clear lights and spread the cards along the wall to form the letter "C", I'm exploring my options to get money to purchase two brand-new bicycles. Perhaps this month I can pay half the rent. I know that idea is foolish. So I do the one thing I can do. I kneel near the fichus tree, visualizing two brand new bicycles. I hear my girls expressing their enthusiasm as they see their brand new bikes. I see them riding their bicycles around the living room. I'm so happy I don't bother to reprimand them for riding their bikes in the house. I can hear their young voices filled with excitement while asking to go outside and ride their bikes. Their excitement makes them forget breakfast. I can see them racing through the door in their pajamas. I see myself assisting Tiffany down two flights of steps with the bike and Jasmine in front yelling, "Come on, come on, come on, I'll race you!"

Then reality sets in. The Christmas account is empty. The move from New York to California wiped out my savings account. I had never disappointed the girls and I didn't want to start now, so I drop to my knees again praying: "Father, you said in your word, Matthew 7:7, ask and you shall receive."
Silence - I hear nothing.
I'm not satisfied. I nag, "What should I do, God? Will you help me if I only pay half of the rent?" I don't get a response; I finish decorating and start preparing my holiday menu.
The following week, about six o'clock in the morning, I'm getting ready for work when the phone rings. It's Matthew, my landlord. I shiver a bitit is as if he is reading my mind. I'm still contemplating paying him only part of the rent and getting the bikes. I have a problem with this because I was raised with the conviction that you always pay your rent, even if you do not have food. And to neglect paying rent to buy some bikes was just plain foolishness. "Good morning, Mrs. Williams", Mr. Matthews said in an elated tone.
I timidly reply, "Good morning."
"Listen," he says. I press the phone closer to my ear and hear paper shredding. "That is the sound of your December rent check," he says. My mouth drops open.
"My wife and I decided we didn't need the money and wanted to give your family a gift. We couldn't decide on what to purchase, so we decided to rip the rent check. Rent's on us this monthMerry Christmas!"

SUMMARY: MATTHEW2
My landlord ripped up my rent check. My children had requested bikes for Christmas, but there was no money in the Christmas account. I had relocated from New York to California and the expenses were more than I had budgeted. I desperately didn't want to disappoint the girls, so I did what I could: I prayed. I prayed and visualized the existence of the bikes. This story demonstrates the principle of prayer and visualization. Again God provides.

Learn more about this author, Diane Williams.
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