July 29, 2010

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.


20 comments:

  1. I love the parallels you have drawn. Glad you found your necklace too!

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  2. I'm glad you found your necklace!! I'm a lot like you when it comes to the house ~ when everything is out of place, I can't even concentrate on stuff & feel like my entire life is in chaos! I think it's great that you & your sister still buy for each other. We usually exchange gifts with my brother & sister-in-law, but let's be honest: they aren't from Kerry! He may not even be aware of what the gift is!

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  3. I am like you, I am also an extreme type A. I cant relax until everything is put away.

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  4. yay :0)
    in this period of my life i'm excited when i find *anything* i haven't seen for awhile! trips to storage are exciting :D

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  5. LOVE this post! Funny yet inspirational, lol! So glad you found the necklace!!

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  6. LOL! I love this!!

    Gotta say that I turn into an absolute IDIOT when something goes missing. I like everything in its place, and when it's not there, I go mad. After a few minutes, I usually start accusing Alan of losing it. I'm such a sweetheart!

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  7. Love the post and I'm glad you found your necklace!

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  8. Rejoicing with you! I'm no neat-freak and I desperately wish everything in my home had a proper place, but I generally know where to find everything and when I can't, I find it distressing, too. So glad you found the wonderful, thoughtful gift from your sister ~ and how you saw the life lesson from God in it all.

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  9. So glad it was a happy ending! And I am so with you about the house stuff! I'm usually organized but because I've been so distracted...I'm not so organized anymore. But I'm working on it. How is Fly Lady treating you?

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  10. Wonderful analogy and I'm glad you found your neckace. (I wish my husband could find the prescription eyeglasses he lost last week.)

    Have a blessed day!

    Joan

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  11. Glad you found your necklace!! (And glad your husband hadn't mis-placed it - lol). Thank you for your encouraging comment on my blog. Your prayers are so appreciated!

    Living for Him, Joan

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  12. Hi Brooke,

    Girl, you crack me up. I sooooo "get" you. I tend to be a bit of a type A as well and clutter drives me nuts.

    I loved your post. Love you too.

    Happy TT. Hugs, Lynn

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  13. CUTE! Isn't it wonderful when you find something lost?!! I bet Jesus feels like that too!
    Great post.
    Happy TT.
    Julie

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  14. Nice comparison to the Parable. I'm so glad you found that necklace!

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  15. Good to know that you found your necklace. And I agree that God never stops seeking us, even if we tend to ignore Him at times.

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  16. I enjoyed your parable and the message it gave...very good post!

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  17. ahhh, you write so beautifully! Thank you for sharing. Glad you found your necklace and that you related it to the parable! Thank you for your comments to me!

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  18. What a great post! That is so true that God keeps searching until he finds us. Just like the shepherd that leaves the 99 and goes look for that 1 lost sheep.

    I just want you to know that next Thursday on http://friday-follow.com/ I am being featured and I have mentioned you as one of my favorite blogs to read.

    Have a great weekend!

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  19. Glad you found your necklace. What a neat way to tie it into the Bible and a lesson.

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