Pies and Plans

Pies and Plans

E veryone stood looking at it in the center of the kitchen island, then looked at each other: who was going to take the pie?

My Sunday evening small group potlucks a meal together from whatever we have on hand before our Bible studies, and on this particular night there had been a bountiful smorgasbord: pigs in a blanket, hot nachos, a cheese board, and a chocolate chip cookie dessert a friend had baked for my son’s birthday that night.

Through all the snacking and celebrating, the apple pie had gone uncut, and heading into the school week, no one wanted to take it and face the temptation of eating it all (or the sad prospect of throwing part of it away).

Suddenly, I had a flash of excitement as I remembered: tomorrow was March 14, aka “Pi Day.” Our school had put out a call for pies the week before so that students in the upper grades could enjoy pie that Monday. Knowing all the birthday festivities we had scheduled for the weekend, I had held off from signing up. But here was a pie in front of me, and all I had to do was say “yes” and transport it.

Dear God, You are more than able to provide for all of our needs. Thank You for the ways You use Your people to share blessings and provisions.

Monday morning I carried the pie into the cafeteria and found the lunch helper. “I didn’t sign up to bring a pie, but someone gave me this pie last night and I knew it was Pi Day today so I brought it in.”

The helper gave me a big smile. “One child’s donation fell through this morning,” she said. Apparently between home and school it was discovered that the pie was full of ants. “It was an apple pie.”

I don’t know who that child was, but I could imagine how they felt. Proudly bringing their favorite pie into school, looking forward to sharing it with friends…and then the embarrassment and sadness of seeing it had been ruined. I’ve been there.

And yet without me knowing what would happen, God had provided a perfect replacement. We don’t always get to know the ways that we bless someone else; it’s a treat when we do. Sometimes we just have to say “yes” and be a part of God’s awesome plan.