Sara: Recently, I lost my coupon organizer. As I’m digging through my purse, sometimes I give it to Gus for something to play with to buy a few minutes. I was certain I had given it to him at home for a few minutes. However, I couldn’t find it.

Justin and I searched high and low – including the dirty clothes bin, a current favorite of Gus’ to play with. At some point throughout this process, I called the last store I had been in and asked if they had seen it. Nope.

So we continued to search. I was pretty upset that it was missing because not only did it have my coupons in it, it also had my shopping lists for next week. As we are pinching pennies, I spent a lot of time trying to determine the most cost efficient way to clothe and feed our family. Of course, I was less than happy with Gus this whole time because I felt he knew where it was! However, as an 11 month old kid, he can’t even hide himself effectively when we play peek-a-boo. How would he have hid my coupon organizer so well?

Finally, I realized I had to give up. I knew I had to cut my losses and just be sad. I began my new lists, and made a plan on how to proceed. Realistically, I knew the organizer had to show up at some point. However, I didn’t know when or how. After a prayer to St. Anthony, I just knew I was done.

The next day, we were out and about, so I decided to swing by the grocery store and see if they had it. Perhaps I hadn’t done a good job describing it over the phone. Justin and I said another quick prayer to St. Anthony before I headed in. After it was not in lost and found, I turned to leave. Then the girl behind the counter asked, “Is this one yours?”

I had my coupon organizer back! I was so excited I started skipping back to the car as I triumphantly held up my coupon organizer. I probably looked crazy, but I was so excited to have my coupon organizer back.

As we drove home, I started to think about the parable of the shepherd and the lost sheep, where a shepherd loses his sheep and he leaves the other 99 sheep to find the lost one. When the lost sheep is finally found, there is much rejoicing.

For the first time, I felt like I really understood the parable. I was so excited that I found my coupon organizer. I can’t even imagine how upset I would have been if it was Gus that was lost. Perhaps God is just as excited when I humbly admit my faults and sins during the sacrament of confession and return to a good relationship.