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Spiritual Lessons from a $100 Toaster
December 1, 1999

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV

I attended my one-hundred-thirty-eighth wedding shower the other day. OK, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration. But it felt like my one-hundred-thirty-eighth wedding shower. As I sat there munching mints and a corner piece of cake (I'm a frosting fiend!) watching my friend Jen open her gifts, I thought back to all the purchases I've made over the years for my now-married friends. Towels. Camping gear. Table cloths. And, of course, toasters.

How appalled I was by the price of the $100 toaster my friends and I bought for one couple-to-be. When my friends and I pooled our dough, $100 was our price range, and the only item still available on our friends' registry was a $100 toaster. For that price, we wanted it to include a lifetime supply of bread and jam as well!

It was depressing to go home from that shopping trip and look at my $12 Target toaster — and all the other mismatched hand-me-down things throughout my apartment. With a heavy sigh, I plopped in my Venus Fly couch (so named by a friend for its green color and ability to suck you in when you sit in it) and began a pity party. I've had to buy my own toaster, vacuum cleaner, towels, and dishes. If I'd saved all the money I'd spent on wedding gifts, I could furnish my place quite nicely. How come single people don't get to register? I was on a roll.

Then, as if God tapped me on the shoulder and lovingly put an end to my pity party, I looked around my apartment. The end table was donated by a coworker. The floor lamps are hand-me-downs from a friend who moved out of the area. And the Venus Fly Couch really was an answer to prayer. When my roommate and I were looking for an apartment, we had next-to-no furniture between us. We had no couch—or anywhere else to sit, for that matter—so I prayed.

Lo and behold, the next week a coworker was moving out of state and selling lots of furniture. Not only did we buy the Venus Fly couch from her, we also bought a chair, bookcase, desk, cactus, and cool antique trunk. Our total cost was a mere $100. So, what had bought our friends just a fancy-schmancy toaster had paid for our whole apartment full of furniture.

When I realized how petty I'd been, I stopped to thank God for providing above and beyond what I'd asked for. And at such a bargain! Who needs to register when you've got God providing for your every need? I'd rather furnish my place with his blessings any day.

— You've just read the Conversation from our new ChristianityToday.com Singles Columnist, Camerin Courtney. When she's not busy with her job as associate editor of Today's Christian Woman magazine, and now the ChristianityToday.com Singles Newsletter, she loves to travel, eat out with friends, watch artsy movies, and hang out in coffee shops. She looks forward to celebrating the single life with you (and venting some frustrations about it, too!) in upcoming issues of this newsletter. Camerin welcomes your feedback and brainstorms at SinglesNewsletter@ChristianityToday.com.

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Copyright © 1999 ChristianityToday.com

Read more from 'Single Minded'

Table For One: The Savvy Girl's Guide to Singleness by Camerin Courtney You'll love this book by the Singles Channel's own Camerin Courtney! It's an honest and upbeat look at the emotions, expectations, joys, frustrations, and privileges of the single life, that will delight and inspire you! Buy it today!