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“Rachel! Rachel Joy! Rachel Joy Tripp! Where are you?”

Frantically I began searching high and low throughout the department store… trying to find my “lost” granddaughter. One moment she was by my side expressing her likes and dislikes at my taste in fashions and the next moment she was gone. It was as if she had vanished in thin air. For a split second I wondered if the rapture had taken place… and then I thought, “Naw. Cause I know I’d be caught up too.”

While searching for Rachel Joy I repeatedly implored loudly, very loudly, “Rachel Joy, if you can hear me… this is not funny and you need to stop playing around. Rachel Joy, come out! Come out, wherever you are! And I mean come out now!” Still, there was no trace of Rachel Joy.

I should have prayed and trusted God to help me find Rachel Joy. But oh no! I’m afraid not. To be totally honest, in no time at all I had worked myself into a wide-eyed, full-blown tizzy and was sweating like a horse (if a horse sweats) and God was nowhere in my thoughts. It’s a crying shame that that’s the way it was… but again; I’m being truthful with you. (I’m so thankful that God is continuing to work on me to make me what I ought to be.)

I was seriously considering calling for bloodhounds and dialing 911 to report an abducted granddaughter, when I caught sight of a faint movement. I couldn’t see it clearly because my vision was foggy from my contact lenses being in desperate need of replenishing with saline solution… but whatever or whoever it was… was inside a burgundy colored coat hanging on a rack in the women’s clothing section.

Hurrying across the aisle to the burgundy colored coat I said, “Rachel Joy! Rachel Joy! Is that you?” As I got closer to the coat I saw feet, legs, and then Rachel Joy’s face. Realizing I had ‘found’ her she said, “Grandmama that was a fun game of hide and seek. Wasn’t it?”

After using my Smartphone to capture a photo of Rachel Joy cocooned inside the coat, I calmly explained to her that she shouldn’t play hide and seek in a department store… and that Grandmama’s nerves were just about shot from ‘seeking’ her. For those who are wondering if I spanked Rachel Joy, the answer is “No.” However, I did give her a serious warning.

This story makes me think of God. For you see Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”—Luke 19:10 (NLT) I pray that you don’t think Jesus or anything about Jesus is a game. His purpose in life was to accomplish the work His Father sent Him to do… and that work included seeking the lost. If you’re hiding, please come out. We are warned repeatedly in God’s Word… to turn from our sinful ways and to humble ourselves before God. It’s time to stop playing around. Your eternal destiny is not a game.

Debra Wallace is an inspirational speaker. You can reach Debra by calling 252-568-3453 or by visiting her website at www.debrawallace.com