Last week, my mom and I chaperoned my teenage daughter and her two friends on a mini holiday to a nearby town.

After we checked into our hotel rooms, we waited for our bags.

Only four of our five suitcases appeared. My mom’s suitcase was MIA. 

Intense investigations ensued. (Ahem)

The hotel staff checked if the suitcase had been misplaced in someone else’s room.

I inspected the foyer and the parking area.

The manager checked the feed from the hotel security cameras. Only four suitcases had been taken out of the cab. 

Maybe the suitcase number five had fallen behind a seat? We called the cab company.

Nope. There was no suitcase left behind in the cab.

By powers of deduction that would put Sherlock Holmes to shame, we figured that the missing suitcase had to be in the airport.

Elementary, my dear Watson!

Or, not so elementary after all.

The small town had a teeny airport. And said airport closes on the dot of 6 pm every evening. (Yeah, I didn’t know airports closed either)

If we wanted to search for the lost luggage, we would have to return the following day at 10:30 am when the airport opened its doors to the throng of humanity—or at least the 64 people who used it.

Our chances of getting the suitcase back were slim to none in this little pondunk airport. We tried to enjoy what was left of the evening, but our minds were on the suitcase.

The next morning, we got to the airport bright and (not so) early. Would the suitcase be found and returned to its rightful owner?

We were ushered into a nondescript office. We handed over our boarding passes. After a few signatures and pictures, my mom and her suitcase were reunited.

Phew.

The relief. The joy. 

The story reminded me of one of the parables Jesus shared in the book of Luke. 

In “The Lost Sheep” parable, just one of the 100 sheep goes missing—but the Shepherd relentlessly searches until he finds it and restores it to the flock. (Luke 15: 3-7). And once He finds that sheep, He carries it on His shoulders with rejoicing.

Till we got our hands on the suitcase, that’s all we could think of.

Sure, we ordered room service. We had even gone up to the lovely rooftop restaurant in our hotel. But our minds weren’t just preoccupied by the lost luggage; it was our primary concern. The chief thing on our hearts. 

Our little incident made me appreciate Jesus’ love for that one lost sheep. 

We become so accustomed to the story that we don’t pause to truly appreciate it. 

The Shepherd didn’t just casually look for the lost sheep.

That is His entire mission.

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19: 10)

That is His purpose statement.

If you count yourself as a sheep that was once lost and has been restored, can you pause and thank the Good Shepherd?

He left the 99 for you.

You were all He could think of.

You were His mission.

You were His joy.

Sure, my mom and I were super pleased to have the suitcase back. We took it back to our hotel with gratitude in our hearts.

But our God rejoices in finding us and returning us to the fold.

Today, let His joy over you fill your heart.

The Word of God says that He rejoices over you with singing 

Exult in the safety of His arms.

Hear that song of joy.

Live in your belovedness. 

Live out your belovedness

 

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” 

Luke 15:7

 

---

If this blog resonated with you,  SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. I would love a Facebook or Instagram follow or share if you’re on social media.