My Bike Got Stolen

MY BIKE GOT STOLEN
It’s sort of a silly thing to write about.

I live in a very small, safe town.
I’ve had the same bike for 20 years. Weather permitting I ride it every day, usually back and forth from my dad’s condo or my kid’s houses.
And weather permitting I often leave it outside at night, because I know I’ll be on it again the next day.

And because my town is safe.

We have an excellent police force that patrols our neighborhoods often.
It’s like family here. It’s home. We look out for each other.

We trust.

I loved that bike. My dad gave me this silly little basket to put on the front of it. It says “I ❤️ my bike.” Just the other day as I was riding that bike home, I smiled at that basket~as cheesy as it was~it was a gift from my dad and it was special. It often held his dinner as I drove it down to him.

So yes, it’s silly but I’ll miss that bike.
I was angry and then sad that someone felt compelled to come and take it.

My heart kept thinking about what was taken from me.

But then God nudged my heart.
He always does.
I argued with Him a little~
“But God, I used that bike to take care of my dad. I rode that bike with my own children when they were little. I used that bike to go babysit my grandchildren, I used that bike to stay healthy...”

And He said~
“Charisse instead of focusing on what was taken from you, focus on what you’ve been given and how that gift can still be used for my glory, even when it’s no longer yours.”

I couldn’t help but think about that basket my dad gave me and how it reminded me of the baskets of bread and fish the disciples gathered up after Jesus fed the 5,000.
All from 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
The lunch of a little boy who was willing to give it all to Jesus.

Am I willing to give it all to Jesus? Even the things that are precious to me? My family? My husband and children? My possessions? Even my bike?
Am I willing to let go of what I thought was mine, realizing everything I have is God’s and that even when the people and things I cherish are no longer in “my possession” God can continually use them for His glory?

Are you willing, or are you like me~arguing with God and telling Him all the reasons why His plan can’t work?

Maybe whoever decided to take my bike is laughing right now, thinking that it was all just a joke to them. Maybe the person who took it really needed a bike, a bike with a cheesy basket attached to it.

Whatever the case may be, I’m going to choose to believe that the reason behind it no longer belonging to me is ultimately for God’s glory and He wants me to trust Him.

If I can’t trust His reasoning behind the small things in life~ like my bike getting stolen~how will I ever trust Him with the big things~whether that means the scary things like pandemics, quarantines, floods, hornets, shootings and riots~
or the precious things like my family.

And so, to the new owner of that 20 year old burgundy bike with the cheesy basket, I am smiling and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did and that you smile every time you read “I ❤️my bike”.

It might sound silly to trust God’s reasoning behind a bike getting stolen but even something small like 5 loaves and two fishes or a bike with a cheesy basket, can somehow bring glory to God long after it’s no longer in our possession.

We just have to trust.



“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Cor. 6:10

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah‬ ‭55:8‬ ‭

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭