Mystery of the White Formal Dress
My Dad and Mom worked in children’s homes for 35 years;18 of those years, Dad was the Superintendent of Westview Boys’ Home outside of Hollis, Oklahoma. Westview was completely supported by the generous donations of individuals and the Christian brotherhood. Clothes, food and other items were given to Westview on a regular basis to help take care of the 65 boys.
My family grew up on a cotton farm a mile from Westview. I have seven sisters and five brothers and almost all of us attended a small country school, along with all of the boys at the children’s home.
The following story takes place in the mid-60‘s when Sharla, a sister one year younger than me, was told by the school she would need a white formal dress to wear for the 8th grade graduation ceremony. All of the rest of the girls in the 8th grade class had a white formal dress – except Sharla! Mom said that we couldn’t afford to buy one, but we could sure pray. I remember us praying for Sharla to get a white graduation dress, but day after day nothing happened.
Two days before the school’s graduation ceremony, a big box came in the mail addressed to Westview Boys’ Home. It was filled with second-hand jeans, shirts and even some sneakers. (Clothes and shoes were regularly marked and put in the storage room for any boy who needed them in the future.) After emptying the box and marking and putting away the clothes, it was discovered that the box wasn’t quite empty. At the bottom was a brown sack with a note attached which read, “I know this is a “Boys’ Home” but if there is anyone who can use this, please take it.”
The sack was quickly opened; found enclosed was (you guessed it!) a white formal dress – just Sharla’s size! Amazing!! I am sure you can imagine the screams and the “Thank you, God” exclamations made that day!
To many, a girl’s white formal dress (just the right size) being sent to a boys’ home (at just the right time) is indeed a mystery! But to us who are being saved, it is another unveiling and revealing of the power of prayer and how great and merciful a God we serve. Plus, if God chooses to send a white formal dress to a “Boys’ Home” at just the right time – He can address our every need!
Yet, the mystery of this dress goes much deeper than this article. Ask me about it sometime. God is good! Mr. Steve
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