The Joy of Finding the Lost One

Everything accounted for — except the one that would later teach me the most.

I was checking stock as I prepared to deliver one of Cheerful's largest custom-designed bulk orders so far. Our door-turned-countertop felt like the perfect space to lay everything out for gift inspection and counting. So I did just that — counting carefully, 10 by 10, laying each cluster out neatly.

At that point, everything looked good.

No defects.

The numbers matched.

Later, after everything was laid out, I did a load of laundry. When the washing machine started vibrating, a few pieces near the edge slipped off the countertop. I paused the wash, picked them up, and regrouped them.

That was when I realised — one piece was missing.

I told myself it would turn up as I packed everything into bags of 50.

Then I started packing.

699?

Where did the last one go?

I searched high and low around the countertop, which is actually a waterproof sliding door resting over our washing machine and dryer.

And then I found it. The lost one had slipped neatly into the dryer, whose door was slightly open.

In that moment, I caught a glimpse of what heaven must feel like when the lost one is found.

How good is our God — revealing Himself in even the smallest moments of our daily lives. I thank God for the lost piece that was found (in the dryer!), and even more for the reminder of His heart and His commission: to be His vessel, to bring the lost ones home.

He is patiently waiting for their return — for our return.

Sometimes, our "garage beginnings of entrepreneurship" aren't glamorous places — but even they are holy ones when we tune our hearts to hear the LORD, where He quietly reminds us of what truly matters.

The lost one, found in the most unexpected place — and a quiet reminder of how God finds us too.