Lost Wallet

Have you ever lost your wallet? I got home from the movies on Saturday night and discovered that my wallet was not in my purse. I went straight back to the car and searched on the seat, in between the seats, even in the back seat although my purse was never in the back seat. I retraced my steps. No wallet on the ground or on the porch or in the house. I checked my purse again. No, it still wasn’t there. So I called the movie theater. The wallet hadn’t been found during clean up between shows but they would look more thoroughly after the last show. I left a detailed description of where I’d been sitting and what my wallet looks like. I was told to call back Sunday morning around 10:30 and talk to the manager. He should know something by then.

I started to think about the things in my wallet. $21.00 and some change. Two credit cards. My Starbucks card with over $30 on it! My driver’s license--I wouldn’t mind trying for a better picture. That’s about it. Cards can be replaced and the money could serve as a donation if someone finds my wallet and doesn’t return it. Losing my wallet is annoying but it’s not the end of the world.

I said a prayer, “Father, you know where my wallet is. Would you please watch over it for me tonight. I can’t do anything about finding it right now. I appreciate you keeping your eye on it for me.” I woke up a few times during the night with a similar prayer on my mind, “God, thanks for keeping my wallet safe tonight.”

Sunday morning Pastor Steve preached about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Nothing is as important as our relationship with God. We mustn’t love anything more than we love God. Of course I don’t love my wallet more than I love God. I don’t love money or coffee more than I love God. I wondered what God was trying to teach me through my missing wallet. No matter what the outcome, I would write about my wallet.

After Church, I went home to call the movie theater. They hadn’t found the wallet. The manager suggested I call the mall customer service to see if the wallet had been turned in there. I called, no answer. I left a message. I really was expecting the wallet to be in the movie theater manager’s office. Before calling to cancel credit cards, I took one more look in my purse and then went out to search the car in the daylight. There it was. My wallet wedged between the passenger seat and the door. It’d been there all the time. Or had it?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Lord! I was glad my story has this happy ending, but also grateful for the journey from lost to found. Would you agree that my lost wallet story was more interesting because God had a starring role? Let God be the star in all of your stories!