My husband and I live in Steamboat Springs, CO in the summertime and in Dallas, TX the rest of the year. A few weeks ago we noticed a winter-like chill in the air, which meant snow wouldn’t be far behind. So, like the dutiful “Snowbirds” we are, we decided it was time to head south for the winter.
Our re-entry turned out to be an emotionally painful crash landing!
The trip to Dallas is a 2-day journey. We pack our SUV to the max…think Beverly Hillbillies…golf clubs, suitcases, boxes of books, boots, shoes, office stuff, two dogs and all their stuff, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture.
We arrived in Dallas about 2pm last Wednesday and the work of unpacking and settling back in began. About an hour after we got home, I looked at my left hand and realized my wedding ring was missing!
Panic!!!
My fabulous, wonderful, beautifully designed by my husband, proudly worn by me for 18 years, diamond ring was gone!!!
It has never been loose. Has never slipped off. The only time I even take it off is at night. Mind mind was racing! Where could it be? I clearly remembered putting it on that morning. As I looked at my naked finger, I felt a tightening in my chest, a pit in my stomach and tears welling up in my eyes.
We tore through every box, tipped every boot and shoe upside down and searched every square inch of this house and nothing! I even rented a metal detector to scan the yard.
Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
While Bob was on the phone with our Insurance Agent, I looked up St. Anthony’s Prayer. He is the Patron Saint of Lost Things and I clearly needed help finding my wedding ring.
One of the great things about growing up Catholic was having an army of Patron Saints at my beck and call! There are Patron Saints of beekeepers, bakers, photographers, maids, you name it! Seriously, whatever the issue is, there is a Patron Saint available to come to your aid.
I found the prayer to St. Anthony online and start reading it out loud…
St. Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find my (insert item here…in my case, my beloved wedding ring) which has been lost. At least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor, I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.
My head nearly snapped off my shoulders when I read the last few sentences. The moment I finished saying this prayer, an unbelievable sense of peace and comfort washed over me. While I may never see my wedding ring again, I know I am eternally sealed by the blood of Christ. And I totally love every moment of my deep and meaningful relationship with my Lord and Savior.
St. Anthony hasn’t help me find my wedding ring, but his prayer did serve to remind me – right when I needed it – that my personal connection to our Almighty God is worth more than any worldly possession.
Thanks to the insurance, my ring will be replaced, though nothing could ever replace the sentiment. We have the insurance company’s approval to start shopping for a new ring, but I’m not quite ready yet. I guess I’m still grieving. And that’s OK.
Are you grieving the loss of something you’ve loved and treasured?
I hope those last few sentences of the prayer to St. Anthony bring you comfort. Let us never suffer the loss of our greatest treasure, eternal life with our Heavenly Father. It is, without a doubt, more precious than gold.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:8-11