The Milk Delivery

I remember hearing a story like this years ago...

There was a man who was driving home one night and as he approached a certain house along the road, a thought came to his mind.  "Go buy a gallon of milk for the people that live in that home."  The man chuckled to himself as he played out the scenario in his head.  How ridiculous he would feel holding a gallon of milk and knocking on a stranger's door.  They would certainly think he was a lunatic, decline his offer and abruptly close the door in his face.  The man continued driving and went home.

The next day, the man was driving home on the same road again when the exact same thought came to his mind as he approached the same house.  But, this time, the feeling was stronger -- like a warm compress on his heart.  But, the man ignored it.  "How ridiculous," the man said, excusing the idea from his mind.  He continued driving and went home.

Two days later, for various reasons, he found himself traveling down this same dirt road.  He looked over to the house he had been thinking about all week.  The porch light was on.  And, of course, the feeling in his heart to buy them a gallon of milk was still there.  "Why won't this ridiculous idea leave my head!" the man said to himself.  "God, if this is You and you want me to buy them a gallon of milk, I will willingly do so.  But, I want you to know that I still feel like a fool."

So, the man picked up a gallon of milk, walked up to the house and knocked on the door.

A little girl answered. 

"Hello," the man said.  "Is your mommy or daddy here?" 

Just then, a woman holding an infant walked to the door and stood behind her daughter.  "Can I help you," the woman said.

Looking down at his shoes for a moment and then at the bag in his hand, the man looked back at the woman and asked awkwardly, "You wouldn't happen to need some milk, ma'am, would you?"

The woman's eyes opened widely and filled with tears.  "Yes, we would!  My husband lost his job and we have been struggling to pay the bills and feed our children.  This milk gives us Hope that God is hearing our prayers.  Thank you so much.  This means more than you know!"

The man was stunned at this unexpected response.  As he walked away, he realized that this, indeed, was not just a silly idea in his head.