Excerpt from "Naked Faith - Part 1" by Dean Chicquette

Before I knew it, I was flopping like a fish down the darkened steps just outside our apartment’s front door. At the time we lived in the second story apartment of a home which had been converted into three apartments, two downstairs and our single apartment upstairs. Coming to rest on the landing some six steps later and nursing a slightly twisted ankle, I glanced back to see what I had tripped over. Astonished, I saw the largest bag of carrots I had ever seen covering the first step heading down to the landing. I picked up all 25 pounds of them and took them to Linda who was in the kitchen, putzing around. She loves to do kitchen stuff. What would take me three-seconds, with her can take half an hour. So, I say she putzes.

Seeing the carrots she too was surprised at the unexpected gift. Never before had such unsolicited fortune arrived at our doorstep unannounced. This time, after carefully descending the stairs and exiting the house, I found myself standing in the new fallen snow, looking up to heaven. I declared with vigor, “Father! We need $1,700 more in work-study funds.” My earthly father had not died yet, so guess with whom I was talking.

At that time we were full time students at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Walking out into the snowy morning, the mature snow beneath the new fallen snow crunched under my feet. As I rehearsed the upcoming request for funds from the college administrator’s office, I remembered the carrots with gratitude. Yet, like borrowing a jack and expecting the worst, I was ready to shout at whoever, “I don’t need your money anyway!”

With one last gulp, I proceeded to the administration building to beg for the money I knew I wasn’t going to get. Right at the main office entrance was a desk with a student sitting behind it. I cleared my throat to begin my plea for more funds when the Dean of the College, having just exited his office, walked past me. Without introduction or hesitation, he said to the secretary, “I know he is a good man, give him whatever he wants.” Within minutes we had the $1,700 increase in work-study funds. If it only takes a tiny bit of faith to pull off big things, I expect that the tiny little seed of faith in me would have needed an electron microscope to be seen.

On the way home, dizzy with joy, without the stress and fear concerning finances, I began to recount the import of the day’s events. Upon arriving home, I was eager to share with Linda what had happened, but she initiated a conversation concerning her own financial blessing.

Having five dollars to our name (that’s another story) she ventured to the store to purchase a staple or two with which to feed us and our two boys, ages two and four. While at the store, a girl she had known since birth (not Linda’s, but the girl’s) bumped into her. In a flash, she offered, out of her own meager finances, to help fund Linda’s shopping. Two full grocery bags later, which included potatoes and onions, Linda returned home rejoicing in God’s goodness and her friend’s love.

You can imagine the praise from her lips as I related my adventure with the Dean of the College. To our knowledge neither of us had ever been personally introduced to him nor spoken with him. His trust and generosity were truly gifts from God. Our friend’s generosity at the store was another example of our Heavenly Father loving us through people.

Oh, I forgot, when I entered the foyer and began ascending the steps to our apartment, I placed my hand on top of the banister as was my custom in the darkened entrance. What a shock! It was cold and damp. My first thought was that I must have carried in some snow and deposited it on the banister. Upon inspection, I noticed a package wrapped in white butcher paper with the phrase “to Dean, Linda and the kids” written in bold black letters. Upon further inspection, I realized it was a five pound beef roast.

​Now we had the carrots, roast, potatoes and onions to make my favorite dish.

​DC