The Parable of the Gum

Late last night I was putting together an Easter basket for a good friend who would not otherwise have one. One of the items I had purchased was Orbit gum. I had two kinds--peppermint and wintergreen.

I was making my children's and husband's Easter baskets at the same time and so in some I put one flavor and in the other baskets, the other. In my friend's basket, I went to put in peppermint, when I suddenly changed my mind and placed wintergreen in her basket instead. I did not know which gum she would prefer but I hoped I had chosen correctly.

This morning I was sitting by my friend in Relief Society and glanced down at her purse. There inside was a package of wintergreen gum. I said to her, "Oh, I see you like wintergreen gum." She answered, "I do! It is my favorite." Later I gave her the Easter basket I had made--complete with the wintergreen gum.

It was such a simple thing, and I know she would have been happy to have received either flavor, but to me it was a sweet sign that Heavenly Father was very much aware of her on this Easter Sunday. It also made me think how often we pass through large, and difficult trials and feel so very alone. Yet, if Heaven can take notice of gum flavor and take the time to prompt me to change it, I am pretty sure we will never be left to walk alone through the times that really matter.

And that thought brings sweet comfort, and . . . joy to my journey.