By Dr. Gladys Childs
Have you ever had one of those days where everything seemed to fall apart?
Maybe it’s not just a day—perhaps it’s weeks, months, or even years of turmoil and chaos.
When everything feels like it’s crumbling, it’s easy to believe it will never get better. Hope can feel lost.
A Family Crisis Unfolds
During the last week of December 2022, my family visited my in-laws in Alabama. Usually, it is a fabulous time.
But that year was different. We both ended up with COVID. As soon as we were well enough, we left for Arkansas to face a challenging new responsibility. My older brother, the trustee of my late mom’s estate, was gravely ill and could no longer handle the responsibilities.
I was next in line and would be taking over. We had a vague sense of what awaited us, but the full scope of the situation was unclear.
Overwhelmed by the Weight of the Task
After a ten-hour drive, we walked into Mom’s house—a complete disaster.
Stuff was everywhere: on countertops, floors, and even the beds. Some furniture was missing, while the rest was in disarray. I stood there, overwhelmed and devastated. What I thought would be difficult but manageable was now a worst-case scenario. What had my brother been doing?
That evening, we worked to make the house livable, rearranging furniture and clearing the kitchen and living room. The next day began a marathon of cleaning and organizing. We hauled countless loads to Goodwill, working from dawn until midnight for several days.
Adding to the chaos, seeing my brother in his condition was heartbreaking. Once healthy, he was now shockingly frail—skin and bone. The sight of him was another layer of devastation. Sorting through Mom’s belongings, meeting with lawyers, grasping the enormity of the estate, and facing my brother’s decline—it felt insurmountable.
Finding Hope Amid the Chaos
By midweek, the house was ready for a realtor, and by Friday, it was officially on the market.
Between house showings, I carved out precious time with my brother. By 4 p.m., I was back at Mom’s house, waiting for the realtor, when something unexpected happened.
I heard a noise outside. At first, I ignored it, but it grew louder. Finally, I looked out the window and saw hundreds of birds in Mom’s tiny front yard. They covered the ground like a blanket of brownish-black snow. It was beautiful. Then, one by one, they took flight, soaring over the house in a breathtaking display.
Joy welled up in my heart. At that moment, I heard God whisper, “I provide.”
As those birds flew over Mom’s house, God reassured me that He would provide everything I needed. Thirty minutes later, I was at the kitchen table reviewing five offers on the house—all above asking price. The house hadn’t been on the market for six hours. God provided.
A Reminder of God’s Presence
The next day, while clearing out a cabinet, I found a baby picture of my brother and, tucked in another corner, a small purple glass bird.
Purple, my favorite color, always brings me joy. That bird reminded me of the flock in Mom’s yard and God’s provision.
And God didn’t stop providing. In his final days, my brother spoke my name—a gift I had prayed for. I spent hours with him, helping ease his pain and feeling God’s peace in the room.
On his final day, I was by his side as he passed. Immediately after his death, an indescribable peace filled my heart. God’s presence was undeniable. Days later, my eyes were drawn to a floral arrangement at the funeral. What I thought were red flowers were cardinals.
It was another reminder: God provides. God is our ultimate provider. He shows up. On my shelf now sits a purple glass bird and a cardinal, reminders of God’s provision.
Dr. Gladys Childs, the “Truth Doctor,” delivers life-changing messages rooted in faith, offering clarity and hope as a religion professor, pastor’s wife, speaker, and mom. Learn more at gladyschilds.com.
