Tuesday, January 26

Lost and found

Unbeknownst to me, a tiny box waited in the branches of the Christmas tree. One of those good-things-come-in-small-packages boxes. For me.


My favorite Christmas gift this year was in that box: a beautiful silver necklace with two charms. Knowing well my love for crosses, my husband bought me a lovely cross necklace. I oohhed and ahhed over it and immediately put it on, remarking that it looked almost like a tiny set of dog tags, proclaiming for all the world that I belong to Christ. I loved it.


And then, just a few days after Christmas, it disappeared.


Puzzled, I looked through my jewelry box. It wasn't there. I remembered what clothes I was wearing when I wore the necklace last, so I searched them, thinking it must have been snagged. It wasn't there. I searched the floor of my closet, thinking perhaps I had pulled off my sweater without removing the necklace and it might have gone flying. It wasn't there. Anxiously I searched the house. My car. It wasn't there. Panicked, I clawed through the dust in the vacuum canister. It wasn't there. Finally I inquired at Lost and Found at the grocery store, which was the only place I'd gone on the day the necklace disappeared. It wasn't there, either.


It wasn't anywhere. It was just gone.


I cried. Sobbed, really. And then I fretted for several days before finally working up the courage to tell my husband. As much as I hate to admit it, I was afraid that he would be angry at me--angry that I hadn't taken better care of his gift. I was scared that he would think me ungrateful and irresponsible. Although I've known him for so long, I doubted that he would understand. In my dismay and disappointment, I doubted him and his capacity for love and sympathy.


Then one day he asked, "Is something bothering you?" and I had to come clean. I cried while I confessed. He wasn't angry. He's not that kind of husband. He just took me in his arms and comforted me. He tenderly patted my back and reminded me that it might still turn up, that there was always hope.


I knew, though. I knew it was gone for good. I knew the situation was past redeeming.


And then, yesterday, I was doing some cleaning. You know the kind of cleaning that you put off for weeks but you know you need to accomplish and it nags at you until you finally just get it done? I finally got around to it. And as I was taking a bag of trash out to the rolling cart in the driveway, something silver caught my eye.




My necklace. There it was, lying on the concrete, miraculously untangled and unscratched. Just lying there, waiting.


It once was lost, but now it's found. And it's once again where it needs to be--clasped firmly around my neck, a silent but eloquent reminder of my identity.


I belong to the One who found me--the One who reminded me yesterday that nothing is past redeeming.


--Gratefully and humbly Unwrapped with Emily at Chatting at the Sky

29 comments:

  1. Have you heard the song Unredeemed by Selah? Great song. God's great mercy and grace toward us, redeeming us... Thank you for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful story and correlation, my friend.

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this. What a sweet reminder of His goodness.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great story! So glad you found your beautiful necklace, too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad you found your necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a wonderful story and such a good ending! Just like mine - I'm so happy Christ found me too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. so glad you found your necklace and had a sweet reminder of His love for us.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great story...I love happy endings!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ummm wow!!! I love this! I'm so in awe of this story that I can't even think of anything more intelligent to say.

    Wow. Just wow!

    I'm so glad you found that necklace! And praise Jesus for those of us that were found in Him.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a beautiful story and illustration! So very grateful you found it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i once lost a necklace so close to my heart... so i really know just how you feel. but a stranger found it and returned it to me. thank goodness. and God! i am so happy that your crosses are right where they belong :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Perfection. He knew just when you needed to find it!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. My goodness, that post has tears in my eyes. God truly cares about the details of our lives! Thanks for sharing this story!

    ReplyDelete
  14. God is always there. Isn't He? Even watching over the smallest of details. I'm glad you found your necklace. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You told this story so beautifully. I'm so glad the Lord allowed you this gift...twice. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh how I love the reminders from God that He is all about our everyday concerns. I'm so glad you found the necklace! It's beautiful...and now even more special.

    As for the cleaning that was nagging you, it needs to scream a bit louder at my house...I just can't seem to make the time {or muster the energy} to do it. But maybe if I do I'll find a treasure. : )

    ReplyDelete
  17. This was beautiful! So happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  18. {{hugs}}

    I'm glad you found the necklace, but I am most moved by the love your husband has for you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. God is SO good! I am always amazed at how much HE loves us! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lovely! I'm so glad you found it. I lost my debit card recently and went through the same thing, eventually having to 'confess' to hubby. He helped me retrace my steps until I found it in the pages of my diary. Allelujah! I love a bit of lost and found. Just like me.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am the sort of guy who loves to seek unused things. Presently I am making my personal pv panels. I am managing it all alone without the help of my men. I'm using the internet as the only path to acheive this. I encountered a very awesome website that explains how to build pv panels and wind generators. The site explains all the steps involved in diy solar panel construction.

    I'm not sure bout how correct the information given there iz. If some guys over here who had xp with these things can have a peak and give your feedback in the thread it would be grand and I would highly treasure it, cauze I truly take an interest in solar panel construction.

    Thanks for reading this. You guys are the best.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am so glad you found it. Thank you for sharing this. It's such a horrible sinking feeling to lose something and such a joy to find it again!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love this post! And that necklace! :)

    I'm so glad you found it!

    ReplyDelete
  24. One of those posts that give me chills.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sweet story. I'm happy it found it's place close to your giving heart once again. Enjoy your day!
    Maureen

    ReplyDelete
  26. So sweet! Once again, I am humbled and touched by your testimony and the eloquent words you tell it with.

    Love you
    ~Amanda

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I read every one; they make my day. If you have a specific question, please be sure your email address is attached to your profile or leave your email address in the comment; I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Every blessing!