The Red Tie

Last week David came home from school and told me that he needed to have a red tie for a music concert coming up soon.  “A red tie in Afghanistan??!!?”  I would like to say I was calm and collected but I stressed out a little (ok maybe a lot).   My life consists simply of going to work and then coming home.  I don’t really have much time for shopping except for maybe on a weekend.   I  am also still very new at finding uncommon things like red ties for boys.   After talking to my logical husband, we decided it might be easiest to make the red tie.   A search on the Internet found a pattern and plan I thought I could do.  Most everyday on my way to or from work I see two small clothing shops with scarves and cloth out front.  I have always wanted to stop and look.  So on Thursday afternoon Noel, David and I went to explore  hoping to find some red cloth.    We did find some red cloth but then we found something else.  In a small, hidden alcove were more clothing shops.  One of the shops had little boys red and black neck ties.   I just had to smile.  It was like a small gift from God saying,  “See I can take care of things like red ties even in Afghanistan. ”

Looking back on my initial reaction, it all seems kind of silly.   It is often the smallest things that get me off course.   It made me think of many people around us who have real stresses like having to find a new home and paying higher and higher rents.   Or even my cleaning lady whose house starts falling apart every time it rains.  Not forgetting the  Afghans who are trying to figure out how they are going to afford wood to heat their homes this winter.   The wonderful thing is that God is a big enough God to handle not only my red tie stress but  any of the other stresses that come along.