I Lost Something I Thought Was Important

Devotional for Friday, August 13, 1999 by Anne Russell

A few days ago I was writing on the computer with feedback to a devotional. I expanded my writing and decided it would stand as a devotional on its own. I even gave it a title. When I finished, I did not read it over as I usually do, to check for any needed changes. For some unknown reason I decided to add my name, Anne. When I looked up at the screen again, all that was there was "nne". The next hour or so was very frustrating because I was determined that the document had to be somewhere. I knew time was a factor, as this devotional was a response to the one I had just read and it would have to be sent, edited, approved, and inserted into the programming as soon as possible. What I thought was important was not to be. I couldn't re-write it, as I was so engrossed with what I was trying to say, I couldn't remember what I had written. It was totally lost. I finally had to accept this as fact.

Since then, I have been told that when I typed "Anne", instead of "Shift-A", I hit "Ctrl-A" which highlighted everything on the screen, and the next letter I typed replaced all the highlighted material, and left me with "nne". If I had typed "Ctrl-Z" ("Undo") at that time, it would have restored my material. But it's too late for that now.

I am sure others have done the same thing, but it was a humbling experience. I was knocked down a notch or two and this is my first attempt to come back.

What I thought was so important, wasn't. Sometimes we have to be pushed down so that God can get a firmer grip with which to lift us up.

Prayer: We know, God, that You are in control. Help us to realize that to accept what happens is our responsibility under You. God, hold us steady and help us to resolve our frustrations. As to a little child, give us strength to overcome each one. Amen.

Anne Russell <anbrussell@rogers.com>
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

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