God Cares about the Details by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

I’m writing this blog from an Atlanta, Georgia hotel room.

I thought my trip to Atlanta was about appearing on a television show, “Atlanta Live.” It was definitely a blessing to talk with show host, Betty Cornett, about my story and book, The Only Father I Ever Knew, but God, the ultimate multi-tasker, had other another assignment in mind. 

The day before we left for Atlanta, we attended a beautiful wedding, as the daughter of our friends, Richard and Lori, got married. We knew that Richard’s mother, Elsie, was in poor health and on hospice. In fact, Richard and the same daughter who married, had just made an out-of-town trip to check on her.  I had also met his beautiful mom several times, and kept praying that the Lord would allow Elsie to hold on so that her beloved family members could enjoy the wedding. She waited, but only a day. She died the morning after the wedding celebration.

Interestingly enough, Elsie lived in Atlanta, and Lori and Richard ended up being on our same flight to Atlanta, and will return on the same flight back to Texas, so we were able to pick them up and take them to the airport, and will be able to give them a ride home as well.

The graveside service was yesterday, and because we are here, I knew that we were supposed to go to the service to support and comfort our friends. We had just met Richard’s brother, Steve, and his wife, Rosemary, at the wedding and felt an immediate connection with them because of their heart for ministry. So we were not strangers when we showed up at the graveside service, also in support of them, but joining them in praise, as Elsie was a strong believer.

Steve, a former pastor, artist, and eloquent speaker, gave the eulogy. Can I share what he said where the three most important attributes of Elsie’s life?

1. She cared about everyone and treated everyone the same. She didn’t focus on social status, nor did she care about race. She loved as God loves, equally, and she loved her family.

2. She was always grateful. She was grateful for what she had, not what she didn’t have.

3. And she was a strong woman of faith, who had a relationship with Jesus Christ, and who always had her Bible close by.

I want to be like Elsie!

When I think about this scenario, I know only God, out of his love for our friends, could have put this together. What are the odds of us being in the same city, on the same weekend, for different reasons, so that we could support this couple friend, our regular dinner partners, that we have known for at least thirteen years? 

Our heavenly Father will often use us as ambassadors of his love. We are not always on the receiving end. What I have also realized is that He pays attention to the details. He will go out of his way to arrange scenarios like this one for his faithful servants.

And he will do It for you as well because God cares about the details of your life.

Scripture says God is so tuned into what’s happening in the world that He knows when one sparrow falls to the ground. “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).

According to at least one resource about sparrows, there are over 160 million in the United States alone, and God knows when one falls to the ground? Meanwhile, according to NPR there are 2.2 billion Christians in the world, a third of the population and we are more valuable than that? It is beyond comprehension.

I remember when I fell to the ground after being hit by a car in junior school. God saw what happened, and provided. There just happened to be a nurse driving by who stayed with me until the ambulance took me to the hospital. I don’t think that was a coincidence. My Father knew I needed help at that moment.

We serve a loving God who loves us intimately and cares about the details. In this weekend’s case, he was a comforter, and asked my husband and me to be his representatives in Atlanta. What a privilege and honor to be used in this way.

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3 Comments

  1. Your stories are very inspiring, strengths, encourages, stimulates, uplifts and pushes me to praise and love God more and more. It’s brings the practical knowledge of our God. I look forward to reading your piece for the joy of the Lord it brings to my soul. Thank you

    1. Thank you so much, Margaret, for following the POP blog. We truly listen for the Holy Spirit to show us what to write. Many blessings! Lisa

  2. Lisa, this touches our hearts so much. I love that God orchestrated these events so that you and Jeff could be with us yesterday. It was very special to have you both there. Richard and I really appreciated having you there. Also, it was fun for us to be able to see you on Atlanta Live on Thursday night! You are a beautiful writer and an excellent speaker. Thank you for sharing this story.

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