I have spent the last few days obsessing over those boots. Obsessing to the point of even calling my mom to see if she had them stashed somewhere in the back of one of her closets. She just giggled at me and said, “Oh, Lainey, that was over 30 years ago.” Yes, I know, but it seems like yesterday or maybe just a year ago.
But then, it made me think of other things that have been lost with the passing of time. Objects once loved then passed on to a new owner for safe keeping. Will they cherish them as much as I once did?
My mind moved from objects to people. Friends who have come and gone. I’m not talking about friends who have passed from this life into eternity, but friends who have stayed a short while only to move on due to circumstances or neglect. You see, I’m an excellent listener and all my friends know this, but when it comes time for me to talk no one listens, so I retreat into my own little world neglecting those around me.
Last week I was cleaning my guest room and ran across an empty envelope from a friend postmarked some 20 years ago. I’ve often thought about her over the years but somewhere in between her moves and mine we lost touch, so I decided to look her up on the internet. Marvelous thing this internet. Low and behold, I found her and sent a quick email. In a short time she emailed back. Many things in her life were the same but there were also many changes. Heartbreaking changes.
My mind then went from lost friends to those who had become lost to Him…The Lover of our souls. Some have walked away because we’ve been hurt by the church or disillusioned by the tedium of life (is that a word…tedium)?
But it is He who has come to save the lost, to find those who have wandered away, and to restore us and make us whole again in Him.
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
LUKE 19: 9 & 10
So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
LUKE 15: 3-5
(More images from The Vintage Marketplace)
4 comments:
Well shoot we should live closer. I finally decided to ditch a "friend"??? after 10 years because they were all TALK about our friendship but NEVER shared the real her. I was tired of making all the effort and being so confused on who she was. So I would LOVE to listen to you! Praying God helps you find that good friend. Retreating is so easy to do...been there done that....but you are a jewel and you do need to find that right connect button. I love your heart.
I am such a NOW person. I loose track of people easily with a move but if I were to see them again I would jump right back in with a big hug and LOTS of catching up. But I kind of don't know a stranger. Blessings to you sweet Cori....may He minister to you exactly what you need...throw your arms WIDE open to Him. He LOVES YOU!
The shepherd is such a wonderful model of what good care and love is all about. Friendship is a lot of work. It's so sweet to find a friend where it's not such an effort to keep going and hearing and listening and growing...
Cori - you have a lot of food for thought here!
What a beautiful post. Thank you. Your blog looks so interesting...
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