Peonies, Pasta and Perspective
July 4, 2016 | My Jottings
I found my wallet!
In my own home, amongst some piled, unfolded clothes.
I’m so glad I didn’t call the police and have the security cameras at the grocery store reviewed. I’m so glad no one stole it, as I was thoroughly convinced had happened.
I’m also a bit relieved that many of my friends have memory lapses too. (A good friend of mine came over last week and I asked her how her week had been. She paused, looked deep in thought regarding how to answer, and then said with a smile, “I don’t remember!”)
I recall why I had the wallet out in my bedroom now. Everything came back to me once I saw it all in context.
But considering how none of it came to mind while I was placing a lost and found Craigslist ad, texting a few friends to ask for prayer, looking through the nooks and crannies of my house, or lamenting the loss of precious photos, this is alarming.
My friend Ginny sent me a beautiful text about how she didn’t think this was just a senior moment, and she encouraged me to seek the Lord about what this was really all about. She believes this experience was meant to shift something in me and give me a better perspective on God’s heart toward lost people. I received her words, and will continue to pray expectantly about this.
The first piece of fruit from this reorientation might be a person who needs prayer. I went to Craigslist to delete my ad once I’d trumpeted my praise to God when I found my wallet, and there was a new ad for another lost wallet. It was posted by a young woman who lost her wallet near our public library, and she said much the same as I did — she didn’t care about the money, she just wanted the things in the wallet returned to her. She gave her name and cell phone number.
So I texted Alyssa and told her I’d seen her ad, gave her some of the details about my own “lost” wallet, told her my name and promised to pray for the return of her wallet. Immediately I had a sense that she needed prayer for more than that, and I put her name in my journal and will pray for Alyssa until the Lord no longer presses her name on my heart.
Today is the 4th of July, and I have sixteen things on my to-do list. That’s a little more than usual. Later this evening one of my fosters and I will be going to my dear friend Su’s house, to a potluck and fun fourth gathering. Su’s fosters and my fosters enjoy this get-together every year. I’m bringing a pasta salad and I’m trying something I’ve never made before. It’s called Tortellini and Asparagus Salad with Tomatoes and Pine Nuts. The pine nuts are toasted and there are ribbons of fresh basil and a homemade vinaigrette in the dish.
I also have laundry to do, a bird cage to clean, toilets to scrub and a foster report to complete. And because tomorrow is our fourth meeting for our Hiding Place study, I should probably do something with the crumbs on the table, the blades of grass from Millie’s paws on the couch, and the toothpaste blobs in the sink of our main floor bath.
Yesterday was such a gorgeous day in Northeastern Minnesota. As I was coming home from the store where I bought the ingredients for the tortellini salad, I decided to pull over and take a picture of the Sarah Bernhardt peonies in the front corner of our yard. Sara transplanted some peonies from our last house and they are gorgeous. I think the light pink ones look like a choir of flowers singing their hearts out to all passers-by. You can click to enlarge the photo if you like.
What do you usually do on the Fourth of July? I will be approaching slumberland when our city’s fireworks show begins right before 10:00 p.m. tonight. I’ll be able to hear the BOOMS from my house, but the memories of past years of those spectacular bursts of fizzling light will have to suffice for me.
Apparently I can remember all the fireworks, but not the wallets.
Have a safe and blessed holiday…
How wonderful that you found your wallet! Our God is an awesome God. I love when He nudges me like that. For me it was when I broke my IPhone. He showed me how attached to that thing I was. His message to me was Put it down and Look around. For the 4th we walk a block or two to the local high school parking lot where we can watch and see the fireworks that are being held from 2 miles away…no traffic jam afterwards- we just walk back home. No crowds or distractions…it’s nice. For us it’s the end of a very busy week. It is our little towns’ annual 4 day long party with a carnival, food vendors, boat races etc. I’m grumpy enough to be glad when it s over. Most of the time we are exhausted by the 5th of July.
Hi Valerie — I liked reading what your family does for the 4th. Very convenient to have it be walkable like that. One of the things my family teases me about is how July (and January) are my two least favorite months. I don’t know why, but I never get excited about hot weather, picnics in the dirt, spider webby outdoor tables, biting flies, loud overhead booms, missing two hours’ sleep, just to name a few reasons. 🙂 I hope you find some rest and energy in these next few weeks. 🙂 xoxo
Every year since I moved to this town I’ve gone to the local pops concert and fireworks. It is held on historic derby wharf with the ocean behind the musicians. There is a fly over by the Blue Angels and later fireworks. The 4th was always special in my family as it was my husband’s birthday. Hope everyone had a great 4th.
Now that sounds like a fourth of July celebration I would like to experience, Nancy. Sounds beautiful and memorable. I hope the 4th always brings back good memories for you of your dear man. Thank you for stopping by here — I love your comments, friend. xoxo
Last week I lost my debit card. I usually carry it loose rather than in a wallet so I checked the usual places I would keep it. Nothing. As I contemplated cancelling it & all the hassle that would entail I said to the Lord [as you do] *I know you know where I left it so do you mind sharing that information with me?* I had peace but no card. Later in the day I went into the pantry & there sitting on top of the cat food was my card. I’m a dork but the Lord is good to me. 😀
That sounds like a song waiting to be written…”Oh the Lord is good to me, although I am a dork.” All of our stories, really. xoxo
Oh my, this story has my name written all over it. I have lost ten Twin tickets (to be found in the garbage, what!?!) Recently, I misplaced a bunch of checks (those who know me, know I wait a long time to cash checks) they had been in the bottom of my purse for cashing, however, days became weeks and I forgot about them, you see, I have a large purse, as well. Well, when I finally realized they were missing ( and who knows how long that had been) I could not find them. I looked everywhere! And why is my last resort turning to Him whom nothing is hidden? One night I just prayed to God to reveal these checks, it was a significant amount, and I went to sleep. In the middle of the night, the thought came to mind to check my receipt bin, and there they were. God works in wondrous ways.
So happy your lost has been found.
Your comments made me feel so much better, Sue. Thank you for sharing your losts and founds too. Hugs to you, dear friend… xoxoxo