YOU Are The One!!

When my sister was little she collected the Strawberry Shortcake dolls. She had EVERY single one of those tiny figures and their pets. She was as obsessed with them as I was with books.

Each time a new one came out, she had to have it. Our mom had to buy it or send our grandpa for it, but either way, my little sister was getting it.

She had this huge strawberry shaped container that she stored them all in for safe keeping. I can't help but giggle when I think of my little sister carrying that big old thing around, proud as punch over her little babies in the case.

I remember one day when she opened it to find that Apricot was missing.

Apricot was actually my favorite because it had the best smell. If any of you remember, those dolls actually smelled like their names, lol.

Anyway, the day that Apricot went missing was the day life as we knew it ceased for the household. At the very moment, my sister opened that giant strawberry and the tiny doll wasn't in there, all I heard was screaming. Unsure of what had taken place, we all ran to her to find out that a DOLL was missing.

Ughh, really?

A doll?

My thoughts at fifteen years of age were, "Hey, you have a million others, just play with them". But my sister was having a meltdown that one of her precious babies was lost. It was apparently a life-altering event for everyone because we all had to join in the efforts to find the missing ONE. My sister put her carrying case with all the others in it aside and she set out on a search and rescue mission that included me, our mom, my grandparents next door and even our uncle who lived two houses up.

You would have thought we were looking for a real missing person, lol.

The search continued well into the afternoon before the ONE that was lost finally turned up on my grandmother's porch under the rocking chair.

Disaster averted, we can all breathe again.

To this day, I can't imagine her loving that ONE doll so much that we all had to stop and go find it, but she did. And after it was found, my sister held onto it tightly, making sure each time when she placed her dolls back in the case, that Apricot was there. She developed a protective attitude for the little doll.

The event reminds me of the parable in Matthew 18 where Jesus spoke of the shepherd that leaves the ninety-nine sheep to go to the one who is lost.

We are told that when he finally found the one that was lost, he rejoiced more for it than the ninety-nine who were still safe.

That's the love of God in action. I know that God loves us all the same, but it hurts Him to see any one of us go astray and become lost. When that happens, He will send His Holy Spirit to compel us back to Him. And when He finds us, all of Heaven and the angels rejoice.

Are you the ONE today?

Have you strayed from the flock?

The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will come for you if you are the ONE. He will leave the ninety-nine who are already safe and He will come for the ONE who is in need of saving.

If you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling you, don't run. Turn and listen to that voice and run toward it. Let Him find you and bring you into His flock.

The same way my sister protected her doll after it was found, is the same way our Heavenly Father will protect you. She kept the doll under her watchful eye after that, keeping track of it, just like God will do with you once He finds you.

Much love,

Christy

Helpful Verses:

Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:10; John 10:11-18