The fall weather was beautiful last week and perfect for riding bikes. I took a break from writing one afternoon, and Ken and I rode off on one of our favorite trails. It winds through the woods north of town, away from people and traffic. Ten miles from home, we heard a woman screaming for help. An older couple running to her aid, flagged us down.
“Can you help?” they asked. “This mother has lost her little boy.”
We parked our bikes and hurried over to see what we could do. The young mother was distraught. Her son was only two. She had been doing laundry while he watched TV, and when she returned to the living room he was gone. She had left all but the screen door open on this beautiful day, and he must have wandered outside.
Ken and I and the two neighbors split up to search in all directions, calling his name. I headed behind the house and into the woods, searching through the underbrush and by every fallen tree. I prayed urgently for God’s mercy as I hurried along, asking Him to help us find this child and bring him home. Ten minutes later, with no luck, I circled back to check with the others. The little boy was still lost. His mother was now hysterical.
I understood her anguish too well. At some point in their childhoods, each of my three children had temporarily disappeared for varying lengths of time and in various places. One disappeared in a grocery store. One on the way home from school, a block away. One at the beach. They were all found, thankfully, but I will never forget the heart-stopping terror I felt. The world that swallows up your child seems so overwhelming and huge, your child, so very, very small.
Earlier that morning in my quiet time I had been praying for three family members who don’t know the Lord. I admit that my attitude toward them was not what it should be. They had hurt me badly, and I was trying to justify their behavior by thinking, “Well, what do you expect? They aren’t Christians.” But as my heart broke for that poor mother and her lost child, I caught a glimpse of God’s heart, and the grief He must feel when any of His children are lost—like my three family members. “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9).
I circled back through the woods, running faster and farther this time, calling the boy’s name. I could hear the others frantically calling, too. And I wondered, might God be asking my husband and me and anyone else who can, to search this tenaciously for His lost ones? Might He want us to set aside time from our own pleasures help seek and save more of His lost children?
With still no luck, I returned to the other searchers a second time. We needed to call the police. The elderly neighbor suggested that the mother search inside the house one last time before we called. And that’s where she found her son, fast asleep, nestled out of sight beneath a pile of clean sheets.
She came outside weeping and thanking us. I held her in my arms and felt her entire body trembling as she squeezed me tightly, clinging to me. The prodigal’s father had surely held his lost son just as tightly. As I quietly thanked God, I thought of how the angels in heaven rejoiced when one lost soul is found.
We said good bye to the others, all of us wrung out and relieved, thankful that the search had ended well. Ken and I got back on our bikes and continued on our way. And I prayed again with a new sense of urgency for my family members.
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Thank you for this story. It holds a lesson for us all. I am thankful for God’s mercy and grace.
I am grateful too, JK!
Lynn, thanks so much for sharing this with us today. I’m grateful this incident had such a happy ending.
I’m currently studying the books of Matthew and Romans, and, even after all these years, I continue to be absolutely stunned at how the God of the universe, the Creator of everything, lovingly pursues us with a passion and urgency that the depth of my sin and faithlessness could never warrant. The older I get, the dearer the “But God” verses in the Bible become.
“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Rom. 3:21-22
Every nation, tribe, people, and tongue. Thank you, Jesus!
That’s a beautiful verse, Tammy. I love God’s word so much! Thanks for reminding me of it.
My eyes are full of tears after reading this post, Lynn. I too know the panic of losing a child temporarily. The terror is unmatched. And what a powerful reminder about the spiritually lost. The consequences of that state of lostness is even more dire, yet we often fail to feel the same sense of urgency. I appreciate you bringing that truth back to my mind this morning.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Karen.
What a story! Our daughter took off in delight at a huge, busy shopping mall, when we turned our backs for a second. She was 2 and had not a care in the world. Our hearts stopped that’s for sure. Your sharing is the perfect reminder of how much God cares for the lost! Thanks for sharing with us. I’m reminded of His perfect love.
Yes, His love for each of us is so amazing! I’m glad you found your daughter, too. It’s a heart stopping experience.
As a mom of three I can so relate to the mother’s terror! I’ve felt that fear, and it’s awful. Thank you for sharing this story, Lynn. It brought tears to my eyes.
Yes, it is terrifying, Becky. And God’s love is amazing.
Such a good reminder of God’s heart for the lost. I love how God uses situations here on earth to help us understand Him more.
I do too, D’Ann. He is everywhere we go!
What a powerful post today, Lynn!
SO thankful that precious child was safely inside, but what a terrifying experience for that poor mother.
I’m sure she was thankful for you and the others helping to search.
I love how you related this experience to God’s love for his lost children. We must keep praying for the lost and never give up on them.
Thanks, Patti Jo. We can never give up or stop praying.
Thank you for that wonderful story of lost and found. We all have family and friends who are lost now and are prayed for often to be found.
I loved your illustrations about God’s desire that we all be found.
Thanks, Jen. God is faithful to answer our prayers and continues to reach out to our lost family members.
A similar thing happened with our oldest daughter and it was terrifying. Your beautiful telling made tears well, Lynn! What a lovely post!
Thanks, Deb. I’m glad you found your daughter and I’m sure you were, too.
Wow, what started out as a peaceful bike ride, surely changed to a mother’s terror. I am so thankful that you listened to the Holy Spirit and helped this mother. God surely teaches us to be more loving and compassionate, doesn’t He?