The Parable of the Lost Necklace

Quit looking in your Bible, its not in there.  This is a very personal parable - God using my life to teach me a lesson.

I'm a perfectionist.  An extreme type "A" personality.  Obsessive almost.  Okay who are we kidding, there is no "almost" about it.    I live and believe the mantra "A place for everything and everything in its place."

Moving was hard on me.  My anemia was hard on me.  That should have been my #1 sign that I was ill - I let my house go.  That's just not like me.  My clutter bug husband makes life mentally hard for me.*

*In a very minor way - he's a great husband.  He's just messy and it drives me crazy.  Don't want my visitors to think he's abusive or anything.  He just leaves work papers everywhere!!

So what happens when everything isn't in its place?  I feel like I'm losing my mind.

I'm not great at accessorizing, so I always love birthdays and Christmas.  Even though we're far too old to still be exchanging gifts, my sister and I still shop for one another.  I get excited opening gifts because chances are I'm receiving a new outfit.  Sometimes its a top and shoes, other times its a top and a bracelet. 

This year for my birthday it was a top, a bracelet, and a necklace.  She specifically got the 3 to match, but the necklace was generic enough to wear with other things.  So last week I got a bit adventurous and tried it with a different outfit.

Only it didn't make it home on my body.  I can't remember the details - maybe I exercised after work or something.  Had I worn it home, it would have been hung on the necklaces hangers my wonderful husband put up for me.

(Honey if you're reading this we need to finish up the closet so I can do a thankful Thursday post about you and my new closet design!!!)

I worn the birthday shirt Tuesday, only I couldn't find the necklace.  I decided that it must be in one of my lockers (at work or at the gym - where I hang my jewelry while I'm exercising).

Only it wasn't.

For 2 days I searched with no luck.  I started freaking out.  I was so upset that Jay (my darling messy husband) assumed it was a family heirloom (I'm blessed to have much of my great grandmother's jewelry).  I was about to give up when I found it.  In a gym bag I rarely use.

I ignored my husband's great news that he was the #3 salesman and rejoiced in finding my lost necklace.

In the Bible, Jesus told the story a little differently: 8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:8-10

Praise God that He doesn't stop reaching out to us.  Whether we've rolled under the rug, or ran away.  He still seeks us. 

For that (and finding my missing necklace) I am thankful.