Lena was baking Christmas cookies when she realized her wedding ring was missing.
The family searched everywhere. No ring. Lena, of course, was heartsick. She had designed the ring herself—a band of white gold with seven small diamonds.
Years later when they renovated the kitchen and took up the old floor tile, the family again searched carefully. Still no ring.
One morning Lena was harvesting carrots from her garden when she pulled up a surprise. The carrot in her hand wore her wedding ring.
Lena surmised the ring had fallen into a pile of vegetable peelings in the kitchen sink and become part of their compost heap—sixteen years previously.
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Petunia, an American Staffordshire terrier, somehow escaped her family’s Virginia farm in 2003. In spite of a vigilant search, they were not able to find their pet.
Imagine the family’s surprise, eight years later, to receive a phone call that their dog had been located. The woman who found Petunia took her to a vet who scanned her microchip and discovered the address of Petunia’s family. However, getting her home was a bit complicated. Petunia had wandered 3,000 miles—all the way to California.
(Petunia)
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(A scenic spot in Mark Twain National Forest)
In early May of 2009, three-year old Joshua Childers decided to take a hike in Mark Twain National Forest, not far from his home in southeastern Missouri. He was wearing sneakers, a T-shirt, and a pull-up diaper. It wasn’t long before Joshua was lost.
Joshua’s family notified authorities and for 52 heart-in-the-throat hours dozens of searchers combed through the underbrush, worried every moment the toddler would succumb to exposure in the wet and chilly weather, fall over a cliff or into a creek, or be attacked by mountain lion, bear, or snake. There were so many dangers to which a three-year old would be susceptible. And, of course, he had no food or water.
(Southern Copperhead, one of five poisonous species in Missouri.)
After two days, searchers were beginning to lose hope of finding the boy alive. Finally one of the volunteers spotted Joshua huddled in a hollow near a creek bed. He wasn’t moving. The volunteer feared the worst but called out to the boy. Joshua sat up and grinned.
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Such stories receive much attention on social media, some even make it to the national news. Everybody loves a lost-and-found story. We find them satisfying, uplifting, and even resonating deep within our souls.
Why is that?
First, the impact of such stories is magnified by the importance of the lost items. If Lena’s ring had been costume jewelry, if Petunia had been a plastic toy dog or Joshua had been a doll, we would hardly react.
Second, we marvel at the odds. A ring found on a carrot? A dog found 3,000 miles away from home? A toddler found unharmed in a damp and chilly forest after 52 hours? The feel-good endorphins kick in when we hear such news.
Jesus told his own lost-and-found stories: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
(The Prodigal Son by Charles Joseph Lecointe)
The sheep was lost because he foolishly left the watchful care of the shepherd and went his own way. The coin was lost through no fault of its own. And the prodigal son willfully lost his way in life through self-centered pursuits.
Each story illustrates: It doesn’t matter to God how we got lost; every one of us is important to him. He longs to restore us to the place where we belong: in his care and keeping.
And that brings us to the third reason we like lost-and-found stories.
We were programmed to be found, and to experience a happy ending—at home in heaven—where we’ll find secure safety, joy beyond imagination, and everlasting peace.
(“Our hearts were made for you, O Lord,
and they are restless until they rest in you”
–St. Augustine.)
That’s why Jesus came—to find each of us and restore us to our Heavenly Father, because we were lost (Luke 19:10). And just like Lena who polished her soil-encrusted wedding band until it shone, Jesus makes us new, shining like stars (Philippians 2:15).
* * * * * * * * * *
I praise you, O God, that my soul has found rest in you. You are my rock of stability and fortress of protection; You are my salvation from all that would destroy me (Psalm 62:1-2).
“And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me! I’ll recognize the sound of your voice” (Psalm 119:176, MSG).
(Art & photo credits: www.maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com; http://www.littlethings.com; http://www.motleydogs.com; http://www.fs.usda.gov; http://www.wikipedia.org; http://www.wikimediacommons.org; http://www.pinterest.com.
From the Inside Out 
What a beautifully hopeful post, dear Nancy! I am smiling as I think how much more worth we are than any material thing (or even pet) … How much God must be rejoicing at our being found. Thanks for this today!!!!
Amen, Heidi. It’s a glorious scene to imagine–God cheering and celebrating as each lost lamb is brought home! I’m delighted the post brought you hope. Praise God!
Thank you Nancy. Beautiful.
And thank you, Laura, for continuing to read from afar. God bless you, my friend!
“Each story illustrates: It doesn’t matter to God how we got lost; every one of us is important to him. He longs to restore us to the place where we belong: in his care and keeping.” And what an INCREDIBLE thought that we are programed to be found! I have to remind myself that I’m really not made for this world as it is right now; my heart is designed for heaven. Tribulation is part of this process and I need to adjust my expectation accordingly–it can do wonders for my attitude! Thanks for this.
Praise God he used this post to minister to you, Dawn. Love the way you described our destiny: our hearts are designed for heaven. And you’re right tribulation is part of the process (Romans 8:17-18). Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Dawn!
loved these stories and their reminder. That carrot story is amazing. My hubby just found a lost ring – missing for about 2-3 years. In the laundry cupboard that we are in daily – We both have no idea how we missed it all the time there. We think it was stuck on part of the metal work inside the cupboard and just recently fell out. Hope, always hope, right?
Yes, “hope, always hope.” I tend to give up hope too soon. Perhaps these three stories, your experience of finding your husband’s ring (also amazing!), and stories from our own family can remind me: we are NEVER without hope. Thank you, Jean!
love reading about Lost Things being Found.
So glad you enjoyed the stories, Carol!
Nancy, isn’t it interesting that people say they “found Jesus” (I’ve said that many times) but actually it is God who finds us?
I suppose it’s a bit of both. Not only does scripture teach that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit seek after us, but that we seek him too (Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 29:13, and Hebrews 11:6, for example). I’m no theologian, but my heart tells me he’s doing more of the seeking than we are. The father of the prodigal son comes to mind and how he RAN to welcome home his wayward son (Luke 15:20). How gracious he is!
I love the way you guided us through the various accounts to the Biblical truth in Scripture, Nancy. It reminded me of a season in which I was struggling to cast my cares on the Lord. He allowed me to lose my engagement & marriage rings on the beach, only to have both miraculously found a few hours later. He is good.😊
Such experiences do give us booster shots of faith. Praise God for HIS faithfulness to reveal himself in so many ways, including lost items found. That moment of discovery does feel miraculous!
“Programmed to be found…” Love that phrase! Great hopeful post!
That wonderful phrase came from a friend in my writers’ group. I hope I remember to tell him that you loved it! So glad you found hope in this post, Cheri.
I love when writers use easy to understand stories to make God’s word easier to grasp. You do this so well, Nancy. Great post.
Thank you, Bill. Greatly appreciate your encouragement!
Thank you for those lovely stories, and the truth that always heartens me – our longings and need are evidence of a God who longs to satisfy them!
Oh, yes! “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion” (Isaiah 30:18). Another glorious facet of our loving Heavenly Father. Thank you for stopping by, Colleen!