Don't Quit
Although I have read and even quoted this scripture, many times, today it seems more poignant. Whenever I read a scripture that specifically touches my heart, I ask myself the question, “What do I need to learn from this?”
Have you ever lost something? I mean have you ever, totally and completely lost something that you just cannot find? I hate losing things. I think part of the reason is that when I lose something, I spend entirely too much time looking for it and then I have lost time. Time, unlike a lost item cannot be restored. I have lost my car keys, my car, my glass of tea, my marbles, sometimes even my mind. I have lost my temper, my kids, (yep, it happened) my dog, my direction, never my salvation and I didn’t lose my husband. (I know exactly where he is!)
This week, I lost something that I cannot explain: the sheets for my bed. How does that happen? I simply do not know. I had 4 sets of full-size sheets in the linen closet and then there were none. NONE. They were not very expensive sheet sets and I don’t think a robber broke into my house to steal them, but they are gone. None of my kids took them and even if they did, they wouldn’t fit their beds. Their beds are bigger than mine. They are not in the wash, not in the dryer, not in the closet, not in the drawers, not in another bedroom or another chest, not in another closet, not here, nor there, they are absolutely nowhere. I now sound like Dr. Suess. Everyone I have asked looks at me like I am losing my mind and maybe I am. Where are those stinking sheets?
I am not sure if I will ever find them so I have stopped looking for them. I have looked for three days. They may turn up again like the proverbial lost penny and I will then probably remember putting them in that particular place for safe keeping. Until then, they are lost.
During my meanderings through the house this week, mumbling and grumbling about my lost sheets, the Lord reminded me of things in the word of God that got lost. In Luke 15:3-6, we read the story of the lost sheep and how valuable it is to the Shepherd:
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Further in the same chapter, we read the parable of the lost coin and its value to the woman who lost it:
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Lord pricked my heart and again reminded me that lost things, lost people are important to Him. They matter. They are so important that He would go searching through the darkness regardless of what stands in the way of finding them. Not only would he find them, but He would pick them up and carry them on His shoulders, back home and back to safety. Never in this passage, does it say that the shepherd was frustrated or exasperated with the lost sheep. Jesus did not say, “Not again, you disobedient sheep,” “I TOLD you not to do that,” “When will you ever learn?”
Nope. He didn’t say that. He picked up the lost sheep, carried it on his shoulder and rejoiced that the sheep came home. May I do the same! Help me, Lord, not to get frustrated or exasperated with those who get lost on their way. Help me to pick them up and carry them over the rough patches, back into safety. Help me rejoice and throw the party celebrating their return. Help me to place your value on those I can bring home.
My sheets are not sheep. They make my bed more comfortable but I am they are just sheets. I am not going to throw a party when I find my lost sheet sets and I may not even tell you because they are surely somewhere that I placed them and then promptly forgot. I won’t ask you to throw a party and rejoice over my lost sheets. However, when God gives me a lesson using my forgetfulness I will try to see my way clear to help you one your journey too. Rejoice!
