what started out as a funny story, turned out to be a tender mercy.

I know I just posted, but this is a really funny story that I need to share.
So today before sacrament I asked my mom if she had any lotion, because my hands were sad and dry. My mom being as awesome as she is handed a small bottle of lotion in a matter of seconds. So to put this lotion on my hands I took off my Grandma's first wedding ring, and just setting in on my lap. Then absentmindedly putting everything in the conveniently placed pockets of my skirt, before leaving my sacrament meeting early to go to listen to a homecoming in another ward. Right before the sacrament meeting in the other ward started, it hit me. I had let the ring roll off my lap as I left the meeting! I hastily text my mom to inform her of the serious problem that had come upon me. I then turn off my phone as to not disrupt my neighbors... During the sacrament I completely realize what had actually happened. I lost this family heirloom... That is very dear to my family and mother. So I said a little prayer practically begging my Heavenly Father that my mom would find the ring quickly and then quickly forgive me for my careless act.
As soon as I very quietly said "Amen." The Holy Ghost whispered "Samm, check your pockets." As I jingle my keys in my pocket, I feel nothing. But as I pull out the keys and give them a gentle shake, the ring falls right onto the jacket of my second mom (Carrie Barnett). She then hands the ring to me and I whisper "Whoops! Sorry Mom..."
After the meeting I turn on my phone, where I quickly receive 3 texts from my mom. The first one says "I can't find it." The second: "The whole ward looked :)" and the final one... "Check the pockets in your skirt"... My mother, is a genius. I then informed her that the ring had gotten tangled up in my keys when I accidentally threw it in my pocket before I left. Her rebuttal: "Well that's good. I had have of the ward on the floor looking for it..." I then told her the story about the prayer and we laughed a little.
I then went back for the final hour of church. After church had gotten out my family had to wait around for tithing settlement. As I walked throughout the halls of the church I had numerous church members asked me if I had found the ring, I would then reply "Yeah... It was just in my pocket." One of the members found it quite amusing, and said that my new favorite game must be hide-and-go-seek. But I left and missed all the fun of seeing half of the ward members on their hands and knees looking for the ring. Apparently one of the brethren had went outside and checked where I had parked. Oh, the graciousness and willingness of a ward family!
This story had a happy ending, but it didn't have to happen that way. I'm grateful for the tender mercy I witnessed today. I'm grateful for my very understanding Heavenly Father. I'm glad this hectic story turned out alright because of my awesome Heavenly Father (although awesome is an understatement). I'm also grateful for the testimony builder that occurred today.
Thanks for reading, again. :)

--Samm.