Noah McVicker’s company was almost bankrupt.
He sold a putty that was used to clean coal soot off wallpaper in people’s homes, but times had changed. After World War II, most home heating systems were converted to cleaner-burning natural gas and that meant that McVicker’s market was gone and, soon, his company would be as well.
In desperation, McVicker hired his nephew Joe to help him figure out what to do next. Joe had a sister-in-law who worked at a daycare and one day she asked if she could take some of the company’s product to work with her. She thought the kids might enjoy playing with the putty. The kids loved it.
Within months, McVicker rebrand his wallpaper putty as a child’s toy that he called Play-Doh.
Today, Play-Doh is one of the most successful children’s products ever. It was named one of the Toys of the Century in 2003 and, since its launch, more than three billion cans have been sold. Its popularity is so widespread that most people even remember the smell of it.
I love the fact that Noah McVicker had no idea what was coming. He thought that his company was finished when, in fact, it was on the edge of the greatest success he had ever seen.
I do not know what you are going through. Things may look bleak. You may be tempted to give in and give up. If that is the case, may I remind you that there is more going on than what you see and know? The Bible is full of stories of how God turned things around at the last moment.
If we believe that God is taking care of us, we can get through anything because anything can happen.
Who knows? Your darkest night might just lead to your biggest blessing.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
