souldare

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

(Isaiah 43:1 ESV)

 

I was putting in my earrings, when I noticed this beautiful necklace puddled on my dresser. How did that get there? I had lost the necklace a few years ago, figuring it was either in Scotland or New Jersey. I had searched pockets in suitcases and the corners of my drawers to no avail. I had given the necklace up for lost.

Every once in awhile, I would wonder where I left it. It made me so sad to lose it, even though I have other necklaces. This particular one had a story.

My husband was travelling out of town quite a bit, when our boys were in grade school. And he happened to be gone on Valentine’s one year. I asked him not to get me anything, especially a heart pendant, because I already had others that I hardly wore.

At this same time one of the boys had a crush on a girl in his class. He’s the romantic type and wanted to give her a gift, which I lovingly discouraged. I told him it would be too much to give a girl a gift at this age. For some motherly reason, I was looking in his desk drawer, when I found this beautfully wrapped box and a card with Kelly on it. My name is Kelly, and so was the girl that he liked. So I jumped to a conclusion.

My romantic son must have disregarded my advice. When he got home that afternoon, I brought him the evidence. He laughed. And then told me that he was supposed to give me the box on Valentine’s day and the card was for the girl. I called my husband to lovingly scold him for buying me a gift. Of course, I was pleased and loved the heart pendant necklace.

So to find it on my dresser now was quite the surprise. The timing of its found-ness could only have been orchestrated by God. I have been feeling misplaced myself these days. I’m not the mother of young children anymore. My husband and I have become like old, well-worn shoes that we’d never give up. And so I’ve wondered to myself, where do I belong?

I took my necklace and placed it around my neck. I sat down in my comfy chair. Picked up Jesus Calling and read: YOU ARE MINE. A perfect day for a necklace to be found. I held the heart in my hand, comforted by God, whose I am.

The necklace that God inspired my husband to buy and my son to hide and give to me on that Valentine’s day so many years ago, and the necklace that I thought was lost, but was tucked deep in the pocket of a suitcase, which by the way, the same son was rumaging through and found the necklace, and placed it on my dresser.

Now that necklace will always remind me that I am God’s and He is mine forever. I always belong to God!