Checking out garage sale merchandise one morning, I noticed a One Day at a Time book priced at 25 cents. I bought the book to donate to my group's lending library. When I opened it to see if anyone had written on the inside flap, I noticed a bobby pin bookmarking several pages. I thought, "That’s kind of tacky. I'll throw it away when I get home." I hadn't owned a bobby pin since the 1970s.

Driving home, I decided to keep the book in my car. Even if I didn't get a chance to read it, just glancing at it periodically would remind me to "Let Go and Let God." I soon forgot about the book.

Later that day my daughter called me as I was dressing for a wedding, where she was going to be a bridesmaid. As she was driving to the church, she told me how things went at the beauty salon. Suddenly she said, "Oh no, I don't remember where I put my shoes for the wedding! I must have left them somewhere. Mom, I need to go." When she hung up, waves of anxiety immediately overwhelmed me, thinking she might hold up the wedding looking for her shoes.

I went to the church hoping to find her before the ceremony. I wanted to find out if she found her shoes. The bridal party was in the church basement and I saw my daughter had her shoes. As I started up the stairs, I turned to ask the young women if they needed anything. The bride quickly replied, "Yes, do you have any bobby pins?" Bobby pins? I answered, "I only have one." The bride said she only needed one. So I rushed out of the church to get that one bobby pin from the One Day at a Time book in my car.

Making my way through the incoming crowd of guests, I was amazed my Higher Power had put that thin, little object in my possession so I could be of service. I didn't see it as a coincidence or being in the right place at the right time. I saw it as my Higher Power working in my life. When I'm open and willing, my Higher Power presents opportunities for me to be of service and to grow spiritually. Sometimes my Higher Power uses the simplest objects to do that.

By Jayleen G., Colorado
The Forum, September 2005

Reprinted with Permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Hdqts, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA

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