A timely intervention to recover a lost item

It was a busy of planning and shopping at Sandton City Mall. I was tired and ready to head home but I had one or two more things I needed to do before. But first, I needed the bathroom so I headed to the nearest ladies. As I prepared to leave the stall I was in, I suddenly felt uneasy and unsafe. I couldn’t explain it. Nothing had happened. Nothing had changed. 

I prayed about it before I left the bathroom stall and then headed out. To my relief, there was a security guard right outside washing her hands by the sink. I was so happy to see her and felt relief wash over me as I washed my hands next to her then I left the bathroom. As I continued running my errands, it didn’t take long to realise I no longer had my cell phone.

To my horror, realised I’d left it in the bathroom stall! Now, panic washed over me as I remembered exactly how this had happened. I’d been holding it when I entered the stall. I didn’t wanna put it away because I was eager to finish my errands, which required my phone, and then head home. So, I put it on the toilet paper holder instead, making a mental note to remember it.

Automatically, I started praying as I hightailed it back to the bathroom as quickly as I could without losing my dignity. When I arrived, the stall was occupied. I waited impatiently for the lady inside to come out. Finally, she did; I rushed in and, to my dismay, the phone wasn’t there. I caught up with her at the bathroom sinks. 

“Did you see a phone in the stall you were in by any chance?” I asked. She had not. I was crestfallen. I lingered for a moment hoping someone else had but it quickly became apparent that I was wasting time. Dejected, I left the bathroom and as I walked out, I saw the security person from earlier – the same one I’d been so relieved to see! For the second time that day, I was so relieved and happy to see her face. Perhaps she knew or saw something.

Sure enough, she had. It turns out someone had gone in after me, seen the cell phone, and handed it to her. She later told me that several people warned her that it was not a good idea to hang on to the phone saying such good Samaritan acts didn’t end well usually. I’m glad she didn’t listen to them. Instead, she handed the phone over to her supervisor for safekeeping.

She showed me where to go to collect my phone. Her supervisor wasn’t at the office when I arrived and I began to pray again. After a while that seemed like an eternity, the supervisor arrived with the phone and gave it back to me. I was so overjoyed I told anyone who would listen at that office what had happened. “Wow, you are so lucky. That never happens, especially at this mall,” one lady remarked. 

I knew I wasn’t lucky. It could only have been the Spirit of God working to turn around the situation for my good. I told her as much. Thank God, I said, and she agreed. I walked off feeling very blessed, feeling seen, and feeling loved. God foresaw the situation and warned me about it in the stall.

I remembered the uneasy feeling I’d had before leaving the stall earlier. It didn’t cause me to remember to take my phone but it did cause me to notice and remember the security guard, and she remembered me too. I must have greeted her very warmly though I can’t say for sure. I just remember that she immediately recognised me when she saw me again.

God continued to work in the situation and not only made sure I got my phone back, but I’m certain that He glorified His name amongst everyone involved in the incident, everyone who heard about it then, and I hope everyone who hears about it now as well. How amazing and great is our God! How awesome and merciful are His acts!

Love,