Desperate Provision

 Posted by Joycelyn A. Annor-Antwi 

I was wondering what was happening to her when she looked at my face totally lost in her thoughts. So, I waved my hand closely to her face and called her name - Mei!! In despair, she walked up the hill and placed the big white bowl with a pink cover she had bought, opened it up and left it behind and said to me, 'Let's go home'. I was very curious because as far as I was concerned nobody actually lived on that hill. Okay! 'What on earth is happening to Mei today' I silently asked myself. Kind of scared at her actions, I drew her attention to the fact that she was leaving the bowl behind. She pulled me away from the bowl as though it was a sacred family treasure. But it wasn't! After all, she just bought it from an online shop. 

Mei and I walked in silence [guess she was also wondering what was wrong with me]. I was feeling very uncomfortable, so, I mustered courage and asked her why she was left the bowl behind. She just sighed and said, 'hmm.. Joy I'm so worried.' 'Obviously!' I said. She stopped walking and said, 'you don't understand. The weather will be changing very soon and it will be winter'. Like you would have done, I quickly said, "So what's your point? And how does the weather relate to the bowl you left behind?" She passionately said, 'The dogs up the hill don't have a pen and when the temperature gets cold, they may die.' In my mind, I said [but they are just dogs, so why stress yourself]. 

I wondered whether the dogs belonged to Mei because I had seen her a number of times feeding those dogs with breakfast during the days I used that street. You know, I knew this was the right opportunity to ask her whether the dogs were hers. Oh! Guess what? The dogs were not even hers, but, she was committed to feeding them each morning; 'desperately' providing them with a temporal hideout before the bad weather pulled its head.

Interestingly, it looked like some other persons I didn’t know, were dreaming about how to make these dogs feel comfortable in the changing season. I used the same road the next morning and saw two other ladies - one giving her bought morning breakfast to these dogs and her other friend was standing by. At the same time you could see other dogs passing by with their owners playing with them and giving them utmost attention.

You know what thrills me most? The next morning, I saw this dog house (picture below) at the top of the hill. I smiled and couldn’t help but take a picture of it. One dog came out as if it wanted to tell its story too.

The sight of the dog peeping its head from the pen made my morning. I couldn’t wait to ask Mei if she was the one who bought the dog house. Coincidentally, I met her the same afternoon and she told me she was also wondering who had bought the dog house. 

I felt this was so beautiful and it's got me thinking for so long... The provision comes right on time when the weather gets bad. The food is provided each morning by people who never benefit from these dogs' protection. They just don't benefit from their investments but....

...In your case, it may not be morning breakfasts or a temporal bowl for a weather hideout – temporal provision. But it could be a permanent dog house, provided by someone you  least expected. Or better still, it could be your Creator making someone have insomnia  because you are in desperate need for an immediate provision. It's not too far from you. 

Sometimes, we barely think we are cared for but I am not sure these dogs never thought they were going to have a brand new ‘apartment’ – a desperate provision.  These dogs had no idea how my friend, Mei, was worried about them. Oh! they were just roaming about in the morning and didn't know where food was going to come from. 

But does it really matter? When your Creator spots you (of which He has), your despair will vanish into thin air and your location will change, Your meals will change and your perspectives will change too. Just don't give up yet. If the dogs could have a place to lay their heads in Winter, you will surely have desperate provisions for your despair. Just hold on tight and don't lose it.