Have you seen the show Parks and Recreation? One of the best comedy TV shows of all times, won a bunch of awards, you know, that one. Well I love it. I’ve seen it a million times and can almost quote most episodes, which is why I was so excited to see it on the list of shows available on the plane. Atlanta to Guatemala City is only 3.5 hours so I figured I could watch Parks and Rec for at least half of that time. The first episode they had available was Ron’s birthday. If you haven’t seen the show I’ll explain a bit.

Basically, Ron Swanson is a grumpy middle aged man who likes very few things in life and even fewer people. He’s extremely private so he was upset that Leslie found out his birthday was coming up. Leslie Knope is extremely lively, excitable and a bit of an in your face kind of friend.Yes, I know, I just described myself, but she’s way cooler, I promise. Anyways, so Ron is going crazy after Leslie promised that what she had planned for him was going to be big. He asked Leslie’s best friend Ann what she had done last year for Ann’s birthday. Ann went on and on about how Leslie went all out, sparing no expense. She talked about doing karaoke at a restaurant where they gave her a sombrero and sang to her, then going back to her house to find all of her friends and family waiting at a surprise party.

Leslie’s assistant started asking Ron questions like, “Can your street fit about 80 cars?”, he even overheard her on a call asking for 40 dozen blow up saxophones. He was so terrified of what she was planning that he drove himself crazy. The whole episode he was freaking out about what horror of a birthday party she was planning for him. By the end of the episode, he had lost his shirt and his hair was a mess, he looked like a wreck from the anticipation. Finally, Leslie came to get him saying there was a conference meeting. He said, “Fine, let’s get this over with” and followed her down the hall.

When she opened the door it was a dimly lit room with quiet jazz in the background, empty other than a table with one single chair. On the table was all of his favorite foods, and boy does this man love to eat. It was perfect for him. He was shocked and relieved and even a little giddy. He said, “But what about the big party and the sombrero and all the people?” She replied something so simple, but so beautiful.

She said, “Why would I throw Ron Swanson an Ann Perkins party?” I paused the episode right then and there. Did God just use Amy Poehler to speak to me? Isn’t this what God is like? He speaks to us all in completely different ways. If He spoke to me the same way that He spoke to you, I might miss it. He provides for us all the same amount, but in vastly different ways. My dear friend Aliseya hears Him through music, someone else might hear him through books or nature, and I hear Him, I guess, through cringe humor.

He knows His children so well and knows exactly how to teach them in a way that will get through to them. He stopped me in my tracks to teach me this beautiful lesson. Leslie was able to give Ron such a wonderful gift because she knew him, deeply and fully. And how much more does our Creator know us? Instead of focusing on what God is doing in someone else’s life, like Ron focusing on Ann’s party, I want to remember that God knows better than anyone exactly what I need. And He withholds no good thing.

Thank You, Jesus, for this sweet sweet reminder delivered in the best possible way for a silly goose like me. 

-K