After a very tough week with some rattling news, we had a weekend of blessing and favor.

It started with a free coffee. The cafe we were at didn’t have soy milk for my coffee, so they didn’t charge for my husband’s coffee when I went to sign for it. I thanked the gentleman and left thinking how kind he was and figuring it was God’s favor.

We were away as a family with my husband, who had to head down the coast for a day’s work. Even the timing of his work was a kiss from God, allowing us all to get away. The kids and I went for a walk and my youngest (4-year-old Master M) decided he would have his jump on the trampolines as promised. I agreed and as I went to pay the cashier I asked for favor, “Perhaps a little longer than the usual 10 minutes please God.” We were often blessed with 15-20 minutes, but the usual amount of time was 10 minutes. I was a little disheartened at our chances, the young guy did not even look at me as he took my money.

We sat down to wait, and, given the young guy’s attitude, I checked my watch to be sure we got our 10 minutes worth of jumping. 10 minutes went by and the kids were still jumping. The cashier called some off. Master M (and by now his big sister 7-year-old Ms R) had been giggling away and both were jumping with joy.

15 minutes clicked past and others were called off. My kids kept jumping and I waited for our call off too.

20 minutes and the jumping giggles continued. Two hot little faces grinned with delight.

In the end my two had watched others come and go, as they continued to giggle and jump for 30 minutes!

The kids put on their shoes and as they walked out they said they obviously had just received God’s favor. Ms R said she had prayed for God’s favor. Perhaps it was a double dose of God’s favor. Perhaps it was our favor being “pooled”.  They both looked up at the young guy, who still didn’t look at us, and both poppets happily chirruped “thank you” a few times, being sure he heard them well.  He did acknowledge them, but not once gave any of us eye contact.

The following morning we decided to have breakfast out since my husband had one breakfast fully paid for through work.  My breakfast would cost $27 and the kids $15 each. The staff looked at M and said he would be “free,” but, after we had thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast together, and we went to sign for the food bill, they said to us that both children were free and they would only charge us $21 for our fully cooked very yummy breakfasts (the lower charge for a “pre-booked meal”). We wondered what was going on, but then thought, “OK, it’s His blessing and favor.”

By Sunday morning we had packed and decided to head out for a cooked breakfast for just Andrew and I. We made sure the two kids had eaten as we packed to leave but once we got to the cafe, Ms R announced she wanted an egg and Master M followed suit. Andrew and I looked at each other and thought we would order one serve of eggs and cut the toast in half (you pay extra for another piece of toast). Well, while it may seem a little thing, I noted that again we had been blessed because when the dishes came out, Andrew’s and mine came out with one piece of toast (as per the menu), but the kid’s eggs and toast to be shared came out with two pieces of toast – there was no need to half the toast between them.

Now many may say, “So what!?” but you know what? I believe these are little touches of God’s goodness and kindness in our lives and I choose to celebrate each little thing He does for me, my family, my friends, my Church, even the miracles that take place in our amazing community and country.

His goodness and His loving kindness follow us all the days of our lives because …

God is good!

Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23:6 NASB

©Beth Kennedy 2011