a "primary" answer

Dear Porter, 

You lost your first tooth at 5 years old. You were so proud and excited that you literally told (& showed) every person you passed on our way to the hotel.  Papa's family was in town and when they arrived we went on a long road trip. (Kirtland-Niagara Falls-Palmyra-Hershey-Gettysburg) The tooth fairy found you all the way in Palmyra.  Before we checked out of the hotel that morning you found a dinosaur CTR ring and decided it was worth your tooth fairy money.  You loved that thing.  You wouldn't take it off.  It had a stegosaurus on it, which is your favorite.  You used it to transform yourself into your "dino powers".   

When we arrived in Hershey you had papa hold it while we went to make chocolate bars at the Hershey Factory.  Afterwards you immediately asked for your ring back.  Papa discovered it wasn't in his pocket anymore.  I could see the panic set in your eyes.  You even tried to feel better by saying we could drive all the way to Palmyra to get a new one if you earned enough money.  

We decided to retrace our steps and look for it on our way out to the car.  Everyone went to the exit of the Hershey Factory.  Immediately I had a feeling to go outside where they watched through the windows to see us make our chocolate bars.  I carefully scanned each section of the sidewalk as I made my way to the windows.  I looked everywhere. In the bushes, the dirt, the curb, the road.  By this point papa, Corbin, grandma, and grandpa made their way outside and looked with me. After several minutes we decided it wasn't going to be found.  After all it was just a silly ring. You were so disappointed but tried not to show it.  I could sense how much this silly ring meant to you.  Everyone made their way for the car when I decided to take one more look.  I decided it hopeless when the thought came to me to say a little prayer.  I felt silly saying a little prayer for a silly ring.

 Then another thought came to me: "Do you have faith in me?"

What a silly thought, I thought.  Of course I have faith in Him. It is something I have worked on and worked on and worked on, is to have unwavering faith in Him.  It is what has gotten me through the darkest bleakest of times.

"Do you have enough faith even for the little things?"

I looked in the bushes once more and then felt strongly I should walk back to the doors one more time.  As soon as I made my way to the open sidewalk that I once scanned earlier I paused for a moment.  I had a feeling to go back to the car and as I turned around my eye caught site of a small looking pebble.  I soon realized this pebble was your ring.  In the middle of the open sidewalk, some 15 feet in front of me. Not a soul in site. 

I picked up the ring and could barely contain the tears welling up.  I said a prayer of gratitude.  I walked back to the car with the ring clenched tightly in my fist.  That ring seemed to be burning in my hand.  As if it were speaking to me.  Telling me that God not only answers prayers but He truly does care about the tiniest, silliest details of our lives.

It occurred to me that it wasn't about the ring.  It was about Him showing me that faith, prayer, and trust work in Him. I have had countless of my prayers answered in my lifetime.  But in this moment I knew this one was to be a teaching moment.  Not only for me.  Teaching me that there is much power in my faith when I put all trust in Him.  But also as a mother to pass this blessing to my children.  

I walked over to you, knelt at your level and told you that prayer works. That your Heavenly Father is always listening. That He will answer our prayers. And that if we have enough faith we can have the power to find even silly little rings.  I could see your 5 year old brain spinning as you hugged me tightly.  

I had to laugh when less then a week later you lost it again at the Air Force Museum.  This time for good.  And you've already forgotten about it.  No matter though, that silly little ring solidified much faith for me and I hope instilled the makings of your own testimony of the power of faith and prayer.   It's lesson has been learned and will be cherished for many years to come.  I'd say we got the best of that ring. If only the next person who finds it could see the valuable story it has to tell.  Stegosaurus and all.