Lost and Found

We recently returned from a playoff game very late (actually early morning). The band and chaperones had to return to the school by 6 AM to leave for a morning parade followed by afternoon all region auditions. I knew it was going to be a hectic weekend. As Garrett and I were leaving the house at 5:45 AM, this was our conversation.

G: Do you have my pants?
(This is not the phrase you want to hear from your teenager, but I was calm. This is also the same student who has lost his school backpack at school 2 times.)
M: No. Do you not have your pants?
G: No.
M: Did you wear your pants home?
G: No.
M: Did you leave your pants in the bandhall?
G: No.
M: Where was the last time you saw your pants?
G: I don’t know.
M: Lets go look in the halls and gym and see if you dropped them.
G: I didn’t go in the gym or hall.
M: We have only been gone from the school for less than 5 hours. How did you lose your pants?
G: I didn’t. I had them.
M: You wore them at the game. Did you wear them on the bus?
G: No.
M: You took them off on the bus. Ok. Did you get them off the bus?
G: Yes.
M: Now we are narrowing this down. What did you do when you got off the bus?
G: I walked around the back of the school to the parking lot and put them in my car with my shoes, hat, books, gloves, jacket, hat box, school clothes and other stuff.
M: You walked around the school in the dark? At night? By yourself? Let’s go look in the parking lot.

At 5:55 AM I drive to the student lot and shine my headlights around the back of the school. Can you believe he found his pants in the grass not far from where the bus dropped off the band kids? I couldn’t fuss at him. He was doing his best. He has lost many things but has kept up with all his band equipment and uniforms for 4 years.

I lose stuff constantly. I can’t count how many times all of us have had to search for my keys. But I have lost other things as well.

Confidence. I will not lose my confidence anymore because I realize that I am not relying on myself but on God. I can have confidence because God works in me and through me. He is faithful.

Courage. I will not be the cowardly lion. God gives us a spirit of power and prompts our hearts like the prophets of old to speak His words.

Self-esteem. I will not listen when others criticize and reject. I will think rightly of myself. Not with pride but in the assurance that I am created by God in his image. He doesn’t make mistakes. He made me exactly as I am and gave me the experiences I need to be ready for such a time as he calls for whatever purpose fits his master plan. Because of Him, I have worth and value.

Trust. I know that men are not perfect and never were created to be such. My trust is not in myself or in mere mortals but in God who is unfailing.

Humility. May I never brag about myself or my family. Only in God may we boast.


May I never lose those gifts which God has graciously given me. May I inspire others to find and use their own gifts.