Found!

"After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."  (Luke 2:46)

He had promised me he would sit right there, on the bench, and people watch until I got back from seeing the exhibit.  We were at the Field Museum in Chicago with a lot of other people.  I enjoyed the exhibit, got back to the bench and he was NOT there.  I didn't see him an;y where.  I looked everywhere.  I was getting ready to either stand in the middle of the rotunda and yell "DAD!" or get help from security.  I really wasn't sure which - but then I saw him.  He was walking across the rotunda heading for the gift shop where he figured I would get to "eventually."

Our Gospel reading, this morning, jumps to Jesus being 12 and being with the family for the festival in Jerusalem.  The festival is over, the family has started back home and both Mary (and Joseph) were "thinking he (Jesus) was in their company." (Luke 2:44)  They have traveled for "a day" (v. 43) before they realize Jesus isn't with them.  This means a days travel back to Jerusalem and then the three days (v. 46) before they find him.  No wonder they were "astonished." (v. 48)  I can even understand why "they did not understand what he was saying to them."  (v. 50)  I can also understand Mary who "treasured all these things in her heart." (v. 51)  We are also told he "was obedient to them" (v. 51) and he "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (v. 52)  They found him!!  They searched, questioned and found him!

There have been times, for each and all of us, when we thought the person (or toddler) we are taking care of is with "the others."  There are times when the person we are caring for has promised to stay "right here" and wait for us.  There are also times when we need to remember to "ponder in our heart" how God IS with us as we care for "our person."  Something to think about........