"Oh wow!" exclaimed Emma. She had just read aloud the first five verses of Deuteronomy 29. She read verse five again. "And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet." Emma looked up. "Those must have been some sandals! My favorite ones lasted one summer."

"You could have worn them longer," said Trevor. "You just wanted new ones."

"The real issue here is that God cares for His people," Dad explained to the kids. "Perhaps Moses was reminding them to be thankful for that."

"Do you think the Israelites worried that their clothes and sandals might wear out?" asked Emma.

"Maybe," said Mom. "I know we often worry about bad things that could happen, but don't. Maybe they did that, too. Instead of worrying, we should thank God for keeping them from happening."

After supper, Trevor took off on his new bike, heading for Patrick's house. Hours later, the two boys wandered into Trevor's kitchen. "Can we have popsicles?" asked Trevor.

"Sure," said Dad, "and then it will be time for Patrick to get home and for you to put your bike in the garage. It'll be dark soon."

The boys looked at each other blankly. They'd been playing and tearing around the neighborhood for quite a while-on foot. "Our bikes!" exclaimed Trevor. "We left them at . . . at . . ."

"At Peter's house?" asked Patrick.

"No, I think it was at the park," replied Trevor.

"Oh, oh," said Emma. "If they're unlocked, you might not see them again."

"Let's go!" exclaimed Patrick, and the boys hurried out to find their bikes.

A little later, two happy boys bounced into the kitchen. "We found them," Trevor reported as they unwrapped their popsicles.

"Trevor, did you remember to thank the Lord for something?" Dad asked.

Trevor looked surprised. "Like what, Dad?" he asked.

"Did your bike get stolen?" asked Dad.

Trevor shook his head. "It was right where I left it."

"Right," said Dad. "So don't forget to thank God for what didn't happen."
Give thanks