The Bracelet: Part I
Last May I celebrated a “big” birthday and my husband and children gave me a very special gift—a charm bracelet. The bracelet had two charms on it—a heart to represent their love for me and a book to commemorate my first book that had just been released. It was also a very expensive piece of jewelry. Around September I opened a glass container on my dresser to get the bracelet to wear and it wasn’t there. I checked a jewelry box and it wasn’t there either. I distinctly recalled straightening some drawers and throwing some things out. I panicked thinking that perhaps I had also thrown out my new bracelet. My husband even moved the dresser for me to see if it had fallen behind it. Nothing. So I retraced my steps and concluded that the last time I had worn it was to the mall. I called stores and checked their lost and found. I envisioned that it had fallen off in a dressing room as it got tangled in a sweater I tried on, but the stores didn’t have it. I continued to pray about my bracelet asking God to show me where to look next. My husband suggested that I try the “Lost and Found” area at church, but I didn’t. I was absolutely sure that I hadn’t lost it there. Was it possible that my daughter had taken it to a jeweler to have another charm put on, maybe to commemorate grandchildren? I asked them, and even though they denied it, I held out hope that I would find it with a new charm under my tree on Christmas morning. I continued to pray about finding my bracelet –that it would turn up or that God would show me where to look, but I had exhausted all options.
The last two Sundays in January our church bulletin announcement indicated that we should check “Lost and Found” because by January 31, everything was going to be sent to the Salvation Army. I read the announcement but didn’t respond that Sunday. On the last Sunday of the month, I saw it again and with a strong impression to look, I thought, “Yes, I really need to check it out.” Our church has several hallways, but I finally located the new “Lost and Found” area with an array of catcher’s mitts, a baseball bat, coats, and casserole dishes. A colorful three drawer chest was in a corner and I opened the top drawer. There it was, my bracelet clasped together as if it were in a jewelry case, just waiting for me to pick up! My mouth dropped open and my duaghter Katie’s face erupted into a wide smile. We ran into my friend Mary in the hallway and I held up my bracelet. She had joined me in praying about my lost bracelet and was thrilled that I had found it. On our way home, Katie called her sister Susan, who had arranged the initial purchase, and told her the good news. My lost and found bracelet is a tangible reminder to me of so many things.
It is a reminder that God knew all along where my bracelet was. There was a delay of months before I found it. That’s the way it often is with prayer. We may pray for circumstances to get better, for God to fix something, for children to grow in their faith, or for a new job. We wait and we don’t hear a word. We see no evidence of change. There may be silence, or “no” or “not yet.” Every time I checked a potential location of my lost bracelet it came up empty, but I kept on looking and asking God to show me where to look next. Don’t get tired of prayer. Continue not only making requests for a specific person or circumstance, but to ask for insight and wisdom. I continued to ask, “Where should I look now?” Don’t get bored with reading your Bible. Sometimes we may think, “I read that and I don’t see where it applies to me,” but be consistent anyway. There is always a nugget there for you—if not for that very day’s application—for a time in the future when you may need it for yourself or for someone else. God may be quiet but He is not absent. He is working behind the scenes in ways you do not know, even when your prayers aren’t answered the way you want. When we read our Bible or look at a verse on a calendar that doesn’t seem to apply to my life at that moment, He may be preparing and strengthening us. He may be giving us something to share with someone else. I have shared my bracelet lesson with my family and friends. I shared it recently in a MOPS devotional and was told, “Thank God for your bracelet story. It helped me today.” It was an experience meant not only for me, but for others.
When I tell the story of my bracelet, most people’s first comment is, “I’m surprised no one took it.” In a church, no less! You may feel at times that someone is taking an answer that you have prayed about for yourself. You are praying for your child to sleep though the night and a friend’s child who has the same problem now goes to sleep without issue. You pray for a better job for your husband and a friend’s husband gets a promotion or a new job that he didn’t even seek. You pray to lose weight and your friend has a metabolism that works overtime. God protected my bracelet for me. Whatever He is doing in our life is to provide for us. Maybe it is growth, maybe patience, maybe developing empathy for someone else. He is also protecting you from what could be potentially not good for you or that you are not ready for at this time. He may be working in areas that are unknown to you. God may be silent, but as you wait, He is not cruel and He is not paralyzed. He is at work in your life in the way that is best for you. He is teaching you something by waiting. We grow through waiting. Waiting is not particularly pleasant, but it is important. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart.” Waiting in the right way will strengthen you. Waiting and fretting will only give you more stress.
Part II will come next month!
Reflection: What part of the bracelet story can you relate to today? Are you in a “Waiting Room”? How can Psalm 138 encourage you?
(c) Marilyn Nutter
My bracelet story has so many parts to it. It only seemed logical to share a recipe that has many parts too! I’ve served this for my tea group and it was a hit. I hope that you will enjoy it too.
Stuffed Croissants
8 large croissants
2 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 eggs
½ cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla extract
16 slices Canadian bacon or ham
8 slices Muenster or Swiss cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Slice croissants lengthwise and remove inner dough portion. Set aside.
Place slices of Canadian bacon or ham on bottom of each croissant. Top with apple slices, then a slice of cheese.
Whisk together eggs, half and half, and vanilla. Pour into a shallow dish. Dip croissant tops in egg mixture and place on top of cheese. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cheese should be melted and croissant tops golden brown. Remove from pan and place on individual serving plates. Drizzle with raspberry sauce.*
*Raspberry sauce: While baking, pour 1 ½ cups of raspberry spreadable fruit in a saucepan. Cook until it is melted and comes just to a boil.
© Marilyn Nutter 2007
