2 minute read
One of a Kind
My son’s Matchbox collection gave me a timely reminder of God’s love.
by Diane Stark
“ M om, can I choose a Matchbox car?” my eightyear-old son, Nathan, asked at the grocery store one day.
I looked at the less-than-a-dollar price tag and nodded. “Sure. Pick one out.”
Fifteen minutes later, Nathan was still standing in front of the cars, trying to decide.
In an effort to speed things along, I pointed to a cool-looking car and said, “How about this one?”
He shook his head. “I already have that one.”
I pictured the giant container of Matchbox cars in his bedroom. “How could you possibly know?”
“I know all of my cars.” He began pointing at the cars in the display. “I have that blue truck, and that red car, and that black van with the flames on the side.”
“And you know it’s that exact one? Because I’m sure the company makes lots of red cars and blue trucks.”
Nathan nodded. “They do, but I know which ones are mine.”
I still couldn’t quite believe it. I pulled out my cellphone and took pictures of the cars he had pointed to.
Finally, Nathan chose a car to buy and we headed to the checkout.
“I Love My Cars” When we got home, I started putting away our groceries. Nathan went upstairs to his room, and when he came back to the kitchen, he was carrying a few of his toy cars. He held them out to show me and said, “I told you I already had these.”
I compared the cars to the photos on my phone. They matched exactly.
“You’re eight years old and you must have a hundred cars,” I said. “How can you keep track of them all?”
He shrugged. “I love my cars. They’re important to me. No matter how many I get, each one is still special.”
I patted his shoulder. “Your memory is amazing, Nate.”
The Good and the Bad That night at bedtime, Nathan drove his new car across the pillow as I read to him from his children’s Bible.
“God loves you and He knows you,” I read. “God created you to be unique, and no one else on earth is just like you.”
Nathan grinned. “It’s just like my Matchbox cars! No matter how many I get, each one is still special. No matter how many kids God has, we’re all special to Him.” “That’s right, bud. God loves you and He knows everything about you.” And just as I was aware of that, I also realized that God knows everything about us— the good and the bad—and He loves us the way my son loves his Matchbox cars. In His opinion, each of us is one of a kind.
Automotive Enthusiast (opposite) Nathan Stark shows off his car collection
Wheeled Bliss (left) “God loves us the way my son, Nathan, loves his Matchbox cars,” says Diane Stark
