Misplaced Phone

It had been a long day.
I came home with packages and groceries and placed them on my kitchen island.
I was trying to get ahead of the winter storm that was scheduled to arrive.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I had to purchase the little incidentals for our meal.

When everything was put away, I got my laptop and put it on the island so I could write.
My island has become my standing desk; more comfortable and better for my back.
My Bible was next to me since I use it frequently as I write.
My phone was there next to me, just in case.

I had a window of time to write before I needed to start dinner.
Write, proofread, edit, and schedule the next day’s publication.
I put everything away, leaving no visible evidence that any writing had just taken place.
I began to cook our dinner.

My daughter was home from college and we were going to have a cup of tea.
Have a cup of tea in front of the fire; we planned to watch a favorite movie.
My phone rang.
I went to my desk in the kitchen, where I usually keep it, but it was not there.

My phone continued to ring.
I looked in the family room.
I looked all around the kitchen.
It was nowhere to be found.

By this time the ringing stopped and I knew a voice mail was waiting for me.
I began to look in the absurd places a distracted woman might have left her phone.
The pantry, the refrigerator, my desk drawer, the table next to my favorite chair.
The phone had simply vanished.

Let me call your cellphone, Mom, and hopefully we will find it.
My daughter called my number on the house phone.
I heard the familiar ring.
We walked all around the kitchen, getting closer by the minute.

The sound was coming from the bookshelf that is above my desk.
The sound was coming from a particular shelf.
The sound was coming from a particular book.
My Bible was ringing.

I laughed and remembered that I had used my cellphone as a bookmark as I was writing.
My cellphone was keeping my place in a precious book.
The letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians.
I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3)

How appropriate.
Especially now at this time of year.
With Thanksgiving, approaching, the verse was very appropriate.
The verse got my attention, as it should.

I found my phone but I realized so much more.
I realized that sometimes I need a reminder.
I need a reminder to be thankful in all things.
I needed the audible prompt that beckoned.

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with Him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching Him, and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denari and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. (Luke 7:36-43)

The one who had the bigger debt cancelled.
That is the one who is the most thankful.
That is the one who loves Him more.
That would be all of us.

We do not deserve the loving kindness of God.
We do not deserve the myriad of gifts and blessings He freely bestows on us each day.
We do not deserve His mercy.
It is exactly because we do not deserve these things that we can even ask.

We come to Him in humility asking for the things we know we don’t deserve.
We come to Him in amazement that He would even take the time to listen.
We come to Him in belief knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us.
We come to Him in faith, knowing that we are saved through His Son, Jesus.

I needed to be reminded that I am a sinner and my huge debt has been paid in full.
I needed to be reminded that because of Jesus, the promise of heaven awaits me.
I needed to be reminded that God sees me and God hears me.
I needed to be reminded that God loves me enough to send His Son to die for me.

My cell phone ringing in my Bible was providential.
It was a call to remember.
It was a call to thank.
It was a call to live in the certainty of my salvation and the promise of heaven.

I am so glad I misplaced my cellphone.