The Parable Of The Lost Coat

The day started off semi-normal. I slept in (it's a requirement on Saturdays) cleaned a little (also a requirement, though not nearly as fun as sleeping in) finished a gift and then got ready to head out for a baby shower. I grabbed my coat, the present and camera and hit the road.

Of course, I was running late. Which left me flustered and burning up because of my coat. I arrive at the location and spend 5 minutes searching for a parking spot, thanks to Upward Basketball. I finally park, pick up the gift and hastily take the coat off to try to cool my frustrated jets and the temperature of my body.

The shower was a fun time of blessing a sweet friend. Cody and I spent the rest of the day running errands and taking care of stuff around the house. We rounded out the night by heading out to go bowling with a group of friends.

It was on the way to go bowling that I reached back in the car to grab my jacket and realized it wasn't there. Cody confirmed he didn't see the coat in the car while we were out running errands. I texted a few friends from the shower to see if they picked it up, but no one saw it. I convinced myself that I must have taken the coat in after I got home from the shower and tried to enjoy the night.

Once we got home from bowling and coffee at Starbucks, I immediately started tearing up the house to find the coat. It is no where to be found.

I literally thought I was going to throw up. My parents got this coat for me two years ago in Ruidosa. It's a pea coat that fits me perfectly, even in length (which is saying a lot for a short girl!) I texted a few other friends who were at the shower and none of them have it, plus they don't remember me walking in with it.

I spent the next hour pacing, trying to figure out where it could be, what happened and begging the Lord to bring the coat back to me. After throwing myself a pity party for way too long, I am all of a sudden hit with a Bible verse:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18

As soon as I hear those verses in my head, I stopped in my tracks. I just spent the last hour praying continuously with more passion and fervor than I have prayed about anything in the past month. It broke my heart to see my own selfishness played out: that I was more concerned over a pea coat that I was about an 8 yr old battling brain cancer, a one month old with a life-threatening heart condition, or my Sunday school teacher who has 3 kids (14-22ish) who started chemo to battle Lymphoma.

It was a eye opening experience to say the least and I was very disappointed in what I saw in myself. I wish this is an issue that I could fix overnight, but I know it will take time. I am working daily to pray continually over the issues that truly matter. Who knew the Lord could teach such a big lesson from a missing pea coat?



{Here's some logistics in case you care. From what I can figure out, when I took the coat off in the car, it must have caught on the gift and I dragged it out when I got out of the car. Because I was in such a hurry, I didn't turn around a realize the coat was on the ground. I'm guessing that someone from Upward Basketball(kinda like YMCA ball but held at a church) picked it up on that day. Because a lot of people are involved in Upward BB that don't necessarily always go to church, I'm afraid the coat is just gone. I've checked in the lost and found several times and nothing has turned up. My last hope will be that someone found it and turns it in for the church garage sale. I have a friend that collects the items and she's keeping her eyes open for it. In my heart though, I do not think I will be getting the coat back. Now all I'm praying is that someone who really needed it is bundled up nice and warm in a really cute pea coat!}