Little lost Lamb

The beloved Lamby

She was showing signs of age. Rag-tagged and a little lumpy, Lamby, as she was known, bore the marks of a well-loved stuffed friend. Despite years of hard loving, she was still oddly adorable. Her floppy body and legs were a little darker than before, accumulated ground-in dirt stuck between the once-fluffy fibers. But everywhere Addyson went, the lamb was sure to go. Lamby offered security and companionship whenever the sun set and bedtime rolled around. Under the covers they snuggled, perfectly content in each other's arms. So just imagine how difficult a Lamby-less evening could be for a sensitive little girl.

We were visiting some relatives and staying the night, Lamby in tow. Addyson and Lamby cuddled throughout the night, greeting the morning healthy and happy. After some time playing with cousins, we left to travel home as did the cousins. Only problem was, Lamby did not make it into our car. That devastating fact didn’t make itself known until several hours later. We made frantic calls back to Aunt Joy in a quest to find the stuffed animal. Despite looking high and low, Lamby had gone missing. Where, oh where, could she possibly be? An all-points bulletin was put out to Kerry, Aunt Joy's daughter, and her brood of husband and three kids. Had Lamby accidentally gotten in that car and traveled to their home?

Where, of where, could Lamby be?

Shortly after arriving back at our house, the full realization hit Addy that Lamby would not be available for nighttime snuggles. I found Addy sitting alone at the dining room table, eyes reddened and tears rolling down here cheeks. She pitifully turned her gaze upward with those watery eyes. She whispered, her soul revealing the deepest pain. “I love Lamby so much! I had her since I was a baby. She is very special to me.” Despite reassurances that Lamby could not run away and had to be "somewhere," no amount of consoling provided the much needed solace.

I tucked her into bed, privileged to hear sweet prayers for her mommy and daddy. Then with tiny hands folded in prayer-like posture, the tears cascaded once again. “Why don’t you pray that Lamby will be found?” I prompted.

“Okay, Grandma. I will.” Between heart-wrenching sobs, she choked out the sweetest prayer in her soft-spoken, almost whispered, tone. “Dear God, please keep Lamby safe. I love her so much. I miss her with all my heart. Please help her to be found. Amen.”

Lamby is found hiding under the bed

As she prayed, I heard my phone beep. It was a simple text from Joy. “Lamby has been found.” What?!? Could it be?

“Addyson, Aunt Joy found Lamby! She is safe and sound!” As the news of the find registered in her heart and mind, her face lit up as if a switch had been flipped on. Tears of joy replaced tears of sadness. There was great celebration in that bedroom! Apparently, Kerry's oldest had hidden Lamby behind some floor pillows and under the bed in Aunt Joy and Uncle Skip's bedroom. It was on the wildest whim that Aunt Joy thought to look there. But sure enough, Lamby was pulled from amongst the dust bunnies residing in that dark and hidden-away zone. What a relief that the lost lamb had been found! It was a teachable moment about God’s goodness, answered prayer, and His pursuit of those who are lost.

What joy to be no longer lost, but found!

We have an awesome God who chases down his lost lambs, human and otherwise.

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.

Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:3-7