The Pinecone

Now, there are answered prayers and then there are answered prayers. And, there are answered prayers and then there's one's FIRST answered prayer. Read on....

We took a walk the other day to find a pinecone.....one we could use to make a birdfeeder. Though that was our mission, I was a bit doubtful we'd find one as I didn't really recall any pine TREES in our neighborhood. So, the whole walk Chloe's looking and asking for the pinecone. As we returned to our house empty-handed, I encouraged Chloe to pray that God would take us on a walk in the next few days someplace where we could find a pinecone and that He would give us one. She did.

The next day was saturday and we were going about our day in the usual lazy saturday way, when we suddenly remembered that Mike had a conference to attend. At the thought of being home on saturday without the car, we rushed around and got ready for the day, dropped Mike at the conference, and on a whim, headed off to Ambury Farm to enjoy the weather.

Since it was a whim, I didn't know just where I was going. I was looking for the farm, but turned at the sign that directed us to Ambury Riding Centre (figured the farm must be close). Chloe and Claire were excited to see a pasture full of horses with "coats" on and the sign on the gate said, "Feel free to wander," so we parked and went through the gate. It was beautiful. Heaps of horses in a huge open field and presumably all pretty friendly considering they're therapy horses. So, we took maybe two steps in and that's when we saw it. The pinecone. There on the ground, though the view was directly before us, lay a single pinecone. I glanced about and not a tree to be seen in this field of horses, grass, and manure. Neither was there another pinecone in all the field. That's when Chloe said, "Look, Momma, God gave us a pinecone!" I must say, it was as fortifying of my faith as it was the first brick in the foundation of hers. We spoke of it all day, she and Daddy made the birdfeeder that afternoon, and the next day when we hopped in the car she prayed, "God, I want to see a policeman." Not 5 minutes later, what do you suppose raced past us, sirens blaring? Girl's got faith....and, God is listening.