A Lost Ring

My oldest daughter moved downstairs some months back. Somehow during the move she misplaced a ring that meant a lot to her. I saw where she was putting it and told her I thought it was not a good spot, as it would not be where she would look later. It was a ring that she got at SonShine last summer. It carried some sentiment of what Jesus had done in her heart. The ring lettering was the Greek word for the highest form of love, Agape. She had really been touched by the meaning of the word at camp that summer. They had done an Agape meal for the youth, and she had been deeply touched. Agape means unconditional, active divine love. It reminds her of God's love for her.

I was reading Luke 15:8-10 and came across the woman who lost a coin in her home. Jesus tells this short parable, reflecting how the woman "lights a lamp, sweeps the house and searches carefully until she finds it." Then when she does, she calls her friends and neighbors together and asks them to celebrate with her, as she has found her lost coin. Let's all see ourselves as "sent ones" this summer, going out to find "lost coins!”
Back to the “lost ring saga.” My daughter had searched many times through every nook in her room. She felt saddened that she was unable to find the ring. Off and on she would pursue looking, but to no avail. I could tell it really bothered her, as it was a special reminder of the Lord's love for her. Finally, I offered to take a look, promising to be very careful to put everything back where I found it. I went through everything one afternoon. (She is not one who keeps a lot of junk!) I did not find it, but in my heart I could feel the persistence of the Lord's leading to keep trying. Finally, I did what I should have done every step of my journey. I stopped and gave up my efforts to find the ring. I asked the Lord to lead me to find what was beyond me. All of a sudden, I felt His sweet prompting in my heart. I opened her desk drawer (which I had already done three times) and felt prompted to look through her stationary. There, in the middle of the little pile, was a small plastic bag which had in it the maker’s card and THE RING!!! Wow! I was so happy, I ran upstairs to show her and a moment of rejoicing rang out in our house!
Back to Luke 15, as I ponder the woman. Jesus goes on to make His point. He says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Another moment of reflection hits my heart, as I think of the opportunities I have had to share Jesus with those around me or to show His love. I remember the time we purchased a pretty gift box to put my mother's gift in for her birthday. (The pretty box was on sale for only $2.) In the checkout, one of our favorite gals was the clerk. She commented on the pretty box and how she would love to get one for her mother. I mentioned there was only one left. She said she hoped it would still be there when she got paid two days later. We finished at checkout and swung back into the store. What for? We went to purchase the other box! As we went through the checkout again, the gal looked a bit confused and said she already charged us for the box. We smiled and told her it was for her, and we wished her a very blessed week. It was all we had to say, but we left feeling we had deposited His love in her heart.
Our family loves these moments of touching lives together. I hope you will find some opportunities yourself. Finding my daughter’s ring was awesome, but seeing someone find Jesus’ love reaches way beyond any words I could find.