How I know the Holy Spirit is at work

The Photo Story

Written by Andi Morice

March 24, 2008

This may seem unimportant to some, but to me it was just another pearl on the necklace of God’s faithfulness. The fact that it was in regards to a relatively unimportant, worldly and very materialistic thing just proves all the more that God cares about all the details – even the smallest. He chooses very personal ways to show us that He has been in control all along and is completely unsurprised with any event no matter how tragic.

Every year the boys would pose for a photo that we would then turn into a tie for Tony for Father’s Day. I’d also get one paper copy to hang up. Well, I was looking at all the photos and noticed that the one from 2006 was missing. I did remember that year I did not order a copy, but I can’t for the life of me remember way. So, even thought that was two years ago, I thought I would call the company and see if they still had it on file somewhere. I was very hopeful that they did, but I knew that chances would be very slim.

The first response was, “No, we don’t keep photos past one year.” So, I asked if they could check in unconventional channels – i.e. emails to the tie place, old computer back-up archives, customer complaint records (since we happened to have trouble with the tie that year). I did tell them that Nick had left us in February and they tried their hardest to accommodate us – but to no avail.

Then, about an hour later the phone rang with a shaky-voiced woman on the line asking for me. They had found the photo. She was amazed at how the odds were stacked against us, but the photo not only survived the yearly purging, but was found by the only person who would even know of a one-time event two years ago that effected only a very few photos.

Apparently, when we visited the studio that year, a woman named Andrea was our photographer. During that time, and for only six months in total, they were backing up all of their photos on a second drive. They were switching from film to digital and wanted to ensure no glitches. They were fairly confident all would go well since they were one of the last stores to switch, but the back-ups were made anyways. Then they were placed in a box in the backroom of the store.

As the months and years past, the employee turn-over rate was high until only Andrea and one other employee were left from that 2006 crew. Andrea never worked Mondays, but since it was a holiday week, the schedules had been altered and she worked a short-shift to cover for a fellow employee. The other long-time employee was on vacation for the week. Even though her shift was ending, Andrea decided to grab the ringing phone one last time before she left for the day. I was on the line and after hearing the story she felt compelled to see what she could do.

It was when she heard that our photos were taken in the spring of 2006 that she thought of that box of back-ups. Without much hope she loaded it on the computer. Then she began to shake and her eyes welled up with tears. She called me and asked, “Were your boys wearing Sox shirts and holding baseball bats?” When I said, “yes” she said, “We not only have the photo – we have the whole sitting.”

What are the chances that we would come during those six months? What are the odds that the box would be put in a closet and forgotten about and never purged? Why would I call on Monday when Andrea never works and she would pick up the phone when she should be punching out? Why did she have a soul of compassion and a diligent spirit to search out that old dusty box for the one in a thousand chance the photo would be there?

Why?

Because God wanted to remove all possibility that we would say, “what luck!” or “How fortunate” and instead realize that He cares for us in all ways and He had been holding us and preparing us for years before this even happened. He is showing us how very present He is and He is even taking the time to speak to us at our level – where we will understand. Some silly photos that won’t last, but speak volumes about His love and care and compassion for us.

Thank you, Lord, for being so clear when I am so weak.

Thank You for condescending to my level so that Your meaning is precisely understood.

You love, Oh Lord, reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness stretches to the sky.