No, not “Lost†the TV show. Molly – my baby pup… (well, she’s actually 7 years old now.) She was missing for almost an hour – seemed like days!!! She’s fine and with Betsy now. What a morning!
Here’s the story. We (me, Molly and Moe) were going to get in the car to meet Betsy at the church. They were going to stay with Betsy today and play outside and sleep and do their usual dog things. So, I went downstairs with them to get in the car. I raised the garage door to let them go potty in my backyard. This is not unusual. Moe has ventured a little too far away in the past so I was keeping my eye on him. Molly is a people person and doesn’t ever go very far away – until today. I was sticking close to Moe and picked him up and put him in the car. Molly usually trails along with me. Not this morning! I looked back and could see her bunny ears going between the neighbor’s houses. So I called her, but she didn’t come. I walked to where I last saw her and called – and she didn’t come. I started driving around the neighborhood and asking folks if they had seen her. After about 15 minutes I called Betsy and she came to help. After looking for about 30 minutes, walking and driving and calling for Molly, I decided to go back to my house and start again from there. Just as I was walking down my driveway I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was Molly sitting on my deck looking at me. She seemed happy to see me, but she didn’t make any noise or come when I called her. I had to go on the deck and get her. What relief!!
I’ve never really understood the parable of the Lost Sheep – leaving the many to pursue the one – until this morning. I practically threw Moe in the car and then in the kitchen to go look for Molly. She was my main concern. And you know what? Moe was not a bit upset about my going to find Molly. When we found her, Moe was excited to see her himself!
So, I’m just like Molly. Sometimes I wander off – not my normal path – but it happens. And I don’t come when He calls. And maybe I’m afraid to run to Him, so I sit and wait and watch and worry. I’m so thankful that He pursues me. He answers when I call out, even though I don’t always answer Him.
Father, help me to stay close to You. And to come when You call; to obey and not choose to go my own way. And give me the attitude of Moe when You bring home a wandering sheep – truly happy to know the lost have been found and are safe in Your arms and not jealous of Your attention.
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.