Pure Joy

Here is Julianna dressed in her Sunday's best and on her way to church. Julianna and I look forward to church for many reasons. Walking inside the Word of Life Church means you're likely to be greeted with hugs and everyone eagerly asking how your week was. We listen to encouraging sermons and have the pleasure of listening to a talented worship team. Julianna is quick to greet our church family with smiles and move to the beats of Sunday's worship songs.

Sometimes after service we go out to lunch and today I thought I'd make a trip to the golden arch. I really wanted to use my coupon for a free berry chiller at McDonald's. I also decided to order chicken tenders and fries to go. Once we got home I decided to go get the Sunday paper from a nearby gas station and that's when the horrible discovery took place. MY WALLET WAS MISSING. I frantically double checked the diaper bag and truck only to remain empty handed. When we went to McDonald's we realized the wallet wasn't there either.

A missing wallet meant having to make multiple phone calls in order to deactivate my Capital One card, Jcpenny's charge card and my debit card. As of this upcoming week I'll have to make trips to the DMV and the Social Security office, call to request a new insurance card, and it's safe to say that I'll never see my Macy's gift cards ever again. Yet even in frustrating circumstances I have much to be thankful for.

Thank God I didn't have any cash inside my wallet. Thank God I deactivated everything in just enough time for no mystery charges to occur on any of my accounts. Thank God I have a missing wallet and not a missing child.

My heart is not only filled with gratitude but also a deep concern for the wallet thief. Many questions enter my mind regarding how my wallet disappeared. Does this thief know that he/she is worth so much more then criminal acts? Does the thief not have enough love in their hearts to understand how such an act can effect someone else? I felt led to pray for the person who stole my wallet, because it's safe to assume he/she does not know Christ. Before I knew Christ personally I would've referred to the unknown wallet thief with unkind names. My spiritual maturity proves that my walk with the Lord is becoming stronger, and that my friends is pure joy.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:2-4