“And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:9-10

Let’s talk about one of life’s great mysteries: the disappearing sock. You put both socks in the washer. You know you did. But somehow, only one emerges from the dryer. Somewhere, in the dark corners of laundry rooms everywhere, there’s a black hole filled with lost socks.

Funny as it sounds, I recently found myself frustrated over another solo sock, my grandson’s. I know they both made their way to the laundry room, but only one was washed and dried….like two or three weeks ago! Then, last night, out of the clear blue, right there, next to the dryer, I had a little heart nudge from God. Lo and behold, there’s the missing sock… in the same place I looked ten other times.

In Luke 15, we read Jesus’ parables of the “lost.” You know the ones… the sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son? I thought about the second one when I found Harry’s sock, the parable about the woman who loses a coin and searches high and low until she finds it, even though I gave up after about 5 minutes of the search a few weeks ago. When the tenacious woman finds her coin, she’s so thrilled she throws a party. (Anyone want to celebrate a Minecraft sock with me?) Seriously though, in the same way, Jesus says there’s a celebration in heaven every time someone turns back to God.

This is a beautiful picture: God notices what’s lost. He cares. He searches. And He celebrates when it’s found.

Even if we’re the lost sock—missing, worn out, or feeling useless—God doesn’t toss us aside. He values us deeply. And unlike Harry’s sock, God never loses track of His children. He seeks us out with love, and He rejoices when we’re found.

This weekend, let’s take a moment to think of someone in our lives who might feel “lost” or forgotten, someone going through a hard time or feeling disconnected. Then, let’s send them a text, write a note, or invite them for coffee. A small gesture of connection could be the beginning of someone feeling “found.”

And if you’re the one feeling lost right now—pause, breathe, and remember: God is looking for you. God loves you. God is waiting for you, arms wide open, to welcome you home.❤️