Finding Sharky

This morning, in the middle of studying some scriptures and praying, my youngest came running into my room and exclaimed with great jubilation that, "We found Sharky!!!"

My first thought was that I didn't know "Sharky" was lost.  Sharky is one of Carson's favorite stuffed animals that we purchased years ago when on a trip to the coast of Texas.  Carson has loved Sharky dearly and we even had to rescue him from a fire one time when big brother overthrew Carson and he landed in the fireplace.  However, a few months ago, in an attempt to "fix" two problems, Carson stuffed several of his stuffed animals into his beanbag.  This, made his beanbag feel full while eliminating the mess of his stuffed animals being everywhere in his room. 

This morning, I guess Carson thought of Sharky and realized that he missed him and the search started.  How many times do I not see the hurt and "missing" people in my life?  They are all around me- the mother holding a baby while watching three other children sitting in the store parking lot holding a sign that expressed desperate need.  The friend, weighed down by grief, hurt and loss, who is too afraid to the vulnerability show.  The cashier who tries to wear a smile all the while dealing with the stinging words of previous customers.  Our world is full of people who are hurting or "missing" and yet they are not lost to the Father.  He always knows where His creation is.....

So, as I walked into the living room, I noticed the bean bag- open with small Styrofoam pellets all over my living room floor.  Finding the lost, hurting, and missing in this world is often a messy business.  It means going into the mess of their lives and loving them there first.  Ouch.  Love in action that is carried out in the midst of uncomfortable settings, situations and emotions is the most genuine.

Without my asking, the boys knew that a clean-up would have to take place.  They got the vacuum out of the closet and began to deal with the mess from which Sharky had been delivered.  My friend, we are often going to be called to walk alongside the hurting, lost, and missing as the mess is cleaned.  The Father never expects us or wants us to clean up our lives before coming to Him- mess cleaning is His job.  He redeems us, and then He walks and guides us through the process of cleaning up the life we left.  No doubt this process is always made easier by loving friends walking alongside you in the task.   I say again, loving people is a messy business.

Despite having to clean up the living room, my boys are full of such joy- Sharky is back in Carson's arms and all the work and effort was worth it.  He is home.  All the effort and work will be worth it when the lost cling to the Savior, the hurting find healing and the missing broken hearts are found and mended..... Our joy will be full. 

Seeking, loving in action, and showing them a real Savior is what He did for us..... let us do the same for them..... mess and all.