Lost and Found

Zach ran frantically down the stairs. "Has anyone seen Mr. Bunny?" he cried. "I can't find him anywhere!" "I'm sure he's around here somewhere, Zach," said Mom. "Have you looked in your closet?" "Yes," said Zach. "I've looked in my room and closet, and in Hailey's room too. I just don't know where he could be!" "Try checking the living room, and Hailey and I will check the other rooms downstairs," Mom said. Zach sped off to the living room. "But Mom," said Hailey, "Zach is getting too old to be worrying about a raggedy stuffed animal. It's embarrassing that he takes Mr. Bunny to school with him."Mom bent to look under the kitchen table. "Remember, Hailey, that Zach finds comfort in having familiar things around him. He gets anxious about going to school, and just knowing that Mr. Bunny is in his backpack helps calm him down." "I get it, Mom. I'll help look for Mr. Bunny." Hailey headed to the laundry room. "I found him!" Hailey called a minute later. "He was hiding in the laundry basket under some of Zach's clothes." "Oh, thank you!" cried Zach, and he gave Mr. Bunny a big hug. Mom smiled. "I'm so glad we found Mr. Bunny. It's amazing how much joy we feel when we find something important to us that has been lost. Do you remember the stories of the lost sheep and lost coin in the Bible?" "Yeah," said Hailey. "The shepherd looked all over for the lost sheep, and when he found him, he called all his friends and neighbors over for a party to celebrate! And the lady did the same thing when she found her lost coin.""That's right," Mom said. "But the most important part of those stories is that they illustrate how much joy there is in heaven when someone comes to trust in Jesus. And just like Zach didn't give up looking for Mr. Bunny, God will never give up on us. Jesus came to earth to rescue us when we were lost in sin, and when we are found, God rejoices over us." "I'm so happy about that," said Zach. "And I'm so happy I found Mr. Bunny!"- Lori Haynie