Lost

Skye slipped out the front door and started down the sidewalk. Mom was busy working on her computer, so Skye had decided she'd go to the park and play for a little while, even though she wasn't allowed to go by herself. I'll get back before Mom even misses me, she thought.After turning a corner, Skye heard a dog barking behind her. She was afraid of dogs and began to run. She dodged through a side yard and came out on the next street. Skye was relieved to find that the dog had not followed. She kept walking down the street for a couple blocks before she realized nothing looked familiar. Where am I? she wondered with a feeling of terror."Hi there," said a man who was out working in his yard. "Are you lost?" Skye quickly took off in the opposite direction. She knew she wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. But where's the park? she wondered. After turning another corner, she stood still. Now she was definitely lost. Her eyes filled with tears as she sat down on the curb.After what seemed like a long, long time, a familiar car rounded the corner. It stopped, the door opened, and out jumped Mom. Skye burst into tears, and Mom gathered her into her arms. "I didn't think you'd come," Skye said, sobbing. "I thought you were busy working.""I was working," said Mom. "But when I realized you were missing, I left everything and came looking for you. Nothing could be more important." She looked at Skye. "I don't think I've ever been so glad to see anyone."Skye wiped her eyes. "Even though I did something I wasn't supposed to?""Even though you did something you weren't supposed to," said Mom.Skye burst into tears again. "I'm sorry, Mom.""It's okay," said Mom. "We'll talk more about it at home. Some of our neighbors are looking for you too, and I need to let them know you've been found."As Mom drove, Skye felt relieved she wasn't lost anymore. She remembered a story she'd heard at church about a shepherd who had gone to look for a lost sheep, and how that was like Jesus coming to save those lost in sin. I'm so glad Mom found me, Skye thought. And I'm so glad Jesus found me too. - Hazel W. Marett