The Lord is mindful of us.

I hope it's okay that I share something of a spiritual nature. I had an experience recently that reminded me that if the Lord is aware of me and mindful of my needs with small things, then surely He is with me and helping me with the big things.

Most of you know that I am a Zumba instructor which means I use my iPod every day when I teach. I love my little pink iPod. It has served me well. Several weeks before Christmas, after teaching a class, I ended up talking to a friend while I put everything away. We walked out of the building together and said good-bye. The next day I couldn't find my iPod anywhere. I accused everyone in my family of borrowing it and not returning it. I went through the garbage, in the house and outside in my garbage bins (that is just so disgusting!). I was convinced I'd thrown it away. I went to the church and searched high and low for it. To no avail. It was gone and I was just sick about it. To buy a new one would cost around $150 My husband was willing to buy me one for Christmas but I just didn't want to spend the money for another one yet. For the time being I borrowed my husband's iPod and continued looking.

Almost four weeks later, still distraught over my iPod and not able to let it go, I had a thought come to me during the night to check my pockets. Rarely do I remember dreams or thoughts I have during dreams, but I got up the next morning and searched the pockets of all my jackets, where I usually put my iPod on the way out of class. NOTHING.

Later that day I was doing laundry and piled all my workout clothes into the washer, except for a couple of pair of pants. I needed to teach a class so I got dressed in a pair of the capris I hadn't washed. Lo and behold, there was my iPod in the front pocket!

A) I felt badly that I had accused my family of losing my iPod.
B) I was so glad I hadn't bought another iPod.
C) I was relieved I hadn't washed those pants - seriously, inspiration regarding laundry? How cool is that?
D) I was glad I never gave up.
E) I, who never feels like I get direct, immediate answers or inspiration, was told to look in my pockets. I just didn't think to look in pants pockets as well as jacket pockets.
F) I immediately got down on my knees and thanked Heavenly Father that I found my iPod and that He would help me with something so small, but something so important to me.

This experience told me that Heavenly Father is very much aware of me, of us, even in small matters. If that's true, then surely He is there for the big things that happen in our lives.

If it's important to you, it's important to Him.

You matter. A lot.