Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:10 ESV
It was a Christmas Eve snowstorm, and after eight long hours shoveling off my customers’ sidewalks, I came home, took a hot shower, changed into warm clothes, and lay down for a nap on the sofa. After a little snooze, I awoke remembering that I needed to pick up more sidewalk melt for the following day, but realized to my dismay, that my wallet was missing. I searched the truck, my coat pockets (three times) and even returned to the job site, shoveling through the snow on both sides of the sidewalks in my frenzied attempts. I wasn’t concerned about the seven dollars in my billfold, but replacing my driver’s license, social security card and charge cards was a problem. But after a year passed, I eventually forgot all about that wallet.
The following Christmas, our son, his wife, and our grandchildren came to visit. We had a great time reminiscing over dinner and then after pie and coffee, we moved into the living room to exchange gifts. As always, it was heartwarming seeing the kiddos tearing off the wrapping paper and one by one, brandishing their treasures aloft. After everyone was done, and I headed towards the kitchen to see if there was any pie left, my son called out:
“Hey Dad. There is one more gift here for you.”
“Really?” I asked. “I thought I pulled everything out this morning.” A bit puzzled, I sat down in my recliner while they put a small box on my lap. I noticed everyone smiling strangely and watching me with eager anticipation, but I just shrugged it off and unwrapped the gift paper. After popping open the box, I found that whatever was inside was wrapped in tons of tissue paper. Finally, after pulling off the last layer, I was astonished to see that what fell into my hands was my long-lost wallet! “What!” I shouted as peals of laughter filled the room. “Where in the world did you find it?”
“We found it under the couch cushions this morning.” Our son answered with a huge grin. “Merry Christmas Dad!”
Sometimes we lose things far more valuable than an old wallet. But the apostle Paul, urges us to focus, not on our past losses and failures, but on present restoration. Often that means discovering that we need others to help us find what we have lost and then seeing that they rejoice with us as we unwrap the long-lost treasures of God’s restoring love!
