I wasn't especially looking forward to what I had to give my attention to, but I was acting in obedience with what was required by the Lord.

I was consoled in the faith that God's favor was extending itself each step of the way. Now what seems to make this experience quite special is that all along the way His major concern was to let me know He knew what I needed.

The thought, "God knows your need" just seemed to keep popping up in my thoughts that were focused in prayer as I was attending to the pressing business.

I knew without fail, my last order of the day was to pick up those pull ups and irrigation solution at the pharmacy across town before they closed. My seven year old daughter, Angels, needed those supplies without fail.

Being a parent to a child with special needs can be very tiresome as the years go by. Here my daughter is soon to be eight years old and she's still in diapers.

The thought itself always humbly hits me each time I load up the back seat with those Huggies. I say a little prayer every time, almost as a ritual now, that one day she will no longer have need of them.

It is not because of their expense. The diapers are covered by insurance. It is the matter of her self esteem each year as she gets older that concerns me. I know she is at the age where she is beginning to realize, "Why do I have to wear these things. I don't like them! Why can't I just wear my panties?" she says.

We have been very forth coming with teaching her the reasons behind her special needs. Having been born with Spinal Bifida, diapers are just one reality of her condition.

She has also wondered why she can't stay outside longer; why she must see so many doctors, and have so many surgeries; why she has to take the purple medicine all the time. "That tastes yucky! Why can't you just give me the pink one?" she says.

But she has come a long way from being confined to a wheel chair with a colostomy bag strapped to her. God has healed her so many times and today she can walk and run.

I was simply making my next to the last stop when nature called. I was in an area which had no public restroom facilities, and was deserted of the thriving business that once resided in that area. Having had past kidney problems myself, when nature calls it can't be put off.

I looked around and noticed a deserted trash bin behind a building. "Lord I've gotta go." I said. He proceeded to affirm to me that it was private and ok under the situation, and also that he had a surprise for me.

I wasn't too concerned with surprises. I just knew I had to take care of business, and quick.

Once around the giant trash bin I saw a new pink Barbie Radio control Jeep Wrangler box. 'It's gotta be empty' I thought. No one would leave one of those to the trash.

"Angels has been wanting one of these. I know her need." The Lord said, prompting me to look inside.

There inside was the new Jeep with remote. I read the box, "Real Working Head Lights!" wondering if they did really work.

At any rate, she could push it around with her Barbies she loves so well. I thought.

"It will run. Better get some batteries." The Lord replied. "I may sometimes supply things from the back end of trash bins but I don't give trash as gifts. My gifts are good and workable!" he said.

Leaning to my own understanding, I discounted what the Lord had said, thinking they might only be my own wishful thoughts.

Confident that it DIDN'T work, I placed it in the car anyway, thinking how I had saw that very same model at Walmart last Christmas. I couldn't afford to pay the thirty bucks along with the other gifts I had bought my daughter. Instead I had settled on getting her the less expensive non remote Barbie Van.

"She's been wanting one of these, and I know her need. I am also aware of your need! Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, 'What are you doing? Why is this so?' Those who obey him will not be punished. The wise man will find a time and a way to do what he says. Yes, there is a time and a way for everything! Though your daughter's troubles lie heavily upon you, I know your need!" said the Lord.

'I guess I better go get the batteries.' I thought.

Arriving home I showed my wife the Barbie Jeep. She gasped! "Oh my God. Thank you Jesus! Angels was just asking for one of these today!"

My daughter walked up and as I presented it to her I said: "Look what Jesus gave me to give to you!"

Her face lit up in a dreamy smile and little Angels replied, "Jesus always gives me all the nice toys! This is just what I wanted!"

I smiled and replied, "No baby. This is just what you need!"

"Look Daddy! It has real head lights!" she blurted.

"Yes and they are working head lights!" I replied in faith, while placing the batteries in all the right places.

At my heart's dismay the toy would not respond.

"It has a switch you know. Turn it on." Jesus said.

God Knows Your Need © Copyright 2002 ~ by Chaplain Scott
All rights reserved to www.chaplainscott.com

Written May 1, 2002: 5:27 AM CST

While editing this story I realized: what I had thought of as "needs" God refers to as "need" singularly. I asked Him about it and His reply to me was, "It is not the matter of the need of "things" that is most important to me as you may think, but what I see is deeper than the necessity of material goods. I see the need behind what those material goods can bring.

It was not the need of a Barbie Jeep your daughter really needed. She had a deeper need that day to know I would answer her prayers! Once I did, it increased her self esteem to know she was heard and cared for by Me! This made her feel valued and increased her love and faith towards Me, moreso than her love for the Jeep!"