My Lost Ring

I never take off my wedding ring. So, imagine my shock when one afternoon I looked down at my hand to discover my ring missing. A hot flash of panic moved throughout my body. Where was it? Did I take it off? Had it slipped off my finger? Was it stolen?

I spent the next several weeks turning our house upside down. I looked in drawers and pockets, in shoes and car cupholders. No luck. I reluctantly began shopping for a replacement wedding ring. Mine was a real gold ring given to me by my sweetheart, long before the age of silicone workout rings. I peered through the ring cases in jewelry stores, shocked by the prices and disheartened about the loss of my sentimental treasure.

Some people say it’s foolish to pray to God and bother Him about our lost or misplaced items. But I’ve always believed God is interested in every detail of our lives, and asking for God’s help is never a bother to Him. Moreover, He’ll always be with us even if He doesn’t respond like we want Him to. My prayer had been consistent, almost hourly, “God, please help me find my ring.”

One morning, I was in our family room sitting on the couch with my youngest son, Brandon. I was planning my day, and he was eating his cereal. Suddenly, after scooping out a big spoonful of Rice Krispies from his cereal bowl, he said, “What is this?” There, resting in his spoon and surrounded by soggy Rice Krispies, was my wedding ring!

I couldn’t believe it! To say I was elated would be an understatement. Was this a miracle? Had God miraculously placed my ring in my son’s cereal spoon that morning? Had it materialized out of thin air? It’s possible, but not likely. I then retraced my steps, now using the cereal as a clue.

I remembered, a couple of weeks earlier, Brandon asked me to help him find the prize in the box of Rice Krispies. So, I reached inside the box and dug around until I found the prize. Now it dawned on me what had happened. In that moment of hunting for the prize—with my hand completely plunged into the cereal box—all that Rice Krispy dust had loosened my ring. It had come off my finger inside the box of Rice Krispies! And there it would remain, hidden for those several weeks until it landed in my son’s cereal bowl.

So much could have gone wrong. The ring could have been thrown out with the cereal box. Or worse, swallowed in a breakfast helping of Rice Krispies. But it wasn’t. Turns out, God did miraculously place my ring in my son’s cereal spoon that morning. In plain sight for all to see. In a way I’ll never forget, God answered my prayer, “God, please help me find my ring.”