The Forgotten Acorn
Many years ago, while strolling down the sidewalk of the mall with my mama and two little ones, we found ourselves inside a craft store. Even to this day, my heart skips a beat with excitement. Immersing myself in the creativity that flows from talented employees and stunning decorative products is always delightful. Though I rarely purchase much, my eyes feast to their fill in endless imaginative possibilities.
That particular day was no exception. Winding around the aisles with wonder, we stopped at the unfinished wood section. Derek, our excited three-year-old, knelt down to get a closer look at the bountiful supply of wooden objects. Quickly, his hands and mind burgeoned with inventiveness, gazing at the wooden wheels, round orbs, and dowels, to name a few of the vast assortment. As our visit came to a close, he lifted his knees from the dusty floor and bid adieu to the wooden kingdom he ruled over momentarily. The little king left his temporary abode, and unbeknownst to me, he left behind the little wooden acorn he brought with him to the store. Overcome with endless options, he laid down his tiny acorn treasure to grab a
hold of something new and more intriguing.
This small, carved wooden acorn was a gift I bought my husband before we were married. It was a beautiful reminder that a small, seemingly insignificant acorn is really a cleverly disguised full-grown oak tree. It heralds the importance of not despising small beginnings, for God always sees the bigger picture. So much so that all the potentials of a mighty oak is in a nut that cradles a seed of stately greatness. This tiny acorn captivated our son’s attention, and though at the time he did not understand its deeper significance, it still became a beloved trinket he faithfully carried around as a child.
Months came and went without notice of the little nut that went AWOL. In all our busyness of life, the acorn dropped off everyone’s radars. Winter had passed, and the promise of spring was now replacing barren branches; new life burst through bleak soil and dreary skies. Spring now welcoming us out of winters’ hibernation, wooing us to celebrate its arrival, it was a perfect time to get out of the house. So, we wasted no time loading up the kids in Mom’s car to run an errand to the Oregon City Mall.
Upon arrival, we happily greeted the outdoor sidewalks that were now doable without the winter chill. We were taking in all the sights and sounds as we moseyed down the path of the mall toward the craft store. Out of the blue, Derek blurted out, “My acorn, my acorn!” Mom and I looked at each other, realizing in unison he had left his little acorn in an ocean of unfinished wood pieces months before. Though apprehensive, we prayed that what was lost would be found. As you now know, my mom was good at that.
Mom and I picked up the pace with Trent, our youngest, in the stroller, positioning ourselves to be his wingman while he ran with a mission to get there ASAP. Racing to the wooden wonderland he once ruled over, he quickly bent down, this time, in hopes to find what he had left behind. Lo and behold, to all of our astonishment, his little acorn lay right where he had left it months earlier. Squealing with delight, he reclaimed his lost treasure, grasping it tightly with an unwavering resolve of ownership and relief. Mom and I, too, were relieved, rejoicing because what was lost had eventually been found.
That little wooden acorn survived both customers’ and employees’ restocking, remaining an undisturbed, holy treasure hidden in plain view, its meaning, purpose, and truth laid down but not lost forever. Dormant, yet brimming with life’s fullness, it waited to be unleashed and reclaimed.
I don’t know about you, but in times past, I, too, have laid down things in order to grab what caught my attention or piqued my curiosity. In doing so, letting go of an important treasure allured by a possible worthy contender. There were times in my life when my faith in God was laid on a shelf while I chose to walk away. Deep wounds were seemingly too painful to endure without the help of worldly distractions to fill the unholy chasm. At times, I turned my back on God, perhaps believing He had turned His back on me. My purpose, self-worth, and destiny remained fallow as I grappled with a pain that no worldly possession was able to soothe. That is until a day came when, in all my restlessness and emptiness, a realization finally dawned on me.
God not only loves us unconditionally, but He also patiently waits for the seed of greatness He planted in all of us to take root. Though I had temporarily left that truth on a shelf like my son’s acorn, He remains steadfast, offering a future and a hope that does not disappoint. His seed of promise bursts with breathtaking grandeur, unlimited potential, and more brouhaha than anything the world has to offer. The funny thing is, the Hebrew meaning of brouhaha is blessed be he who enters. And to think I just found it fun to say!
So, no matter how far you strayed away, or how unworthy you feel for the choices you made along the way, God bids you enter and be blessed. His Word paints for us a soul-comforting picture of unyielding commitment. My prayer is that you and I run back to God with all the zeal our son had when he finally realized what he forgot and embrace the joy in the glorious rediscovery. God is in the business of finding and being found, and you are no exception. His deepest longing is to reclaim the irreplaceable treasure called YOU. That, my friend, is a big deal, or as I like to say, a whole lotta brouhaha!
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you prayed, I’m so proud of your decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You are deeply and profoundly loved.
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