How many of you have ever been given the title, “The Biggest Loser”?  Well, unfortunately I hadn’t either until I played Bunco this weekend with a group of ladies.  A few days leading up to Bunco night had been filled with grief and trauma symptoms.  So, when I received a text from a friend inviting me to go to Bunco night, since they were in need of an additional two ladies, I hopped on board.

My eyes honed in on the words”filled with laughter” in the text.  After listening to the pitter patter of the rain, and having an emotional Saturday, I knew that Bunco was calling my name.  I got a chance to play with ten other women, who, like myself, were needing a break.  As God would have it, I knew one of them.

The game got pretty intense, and surprisingly, I couldn’t seem to leave the Losers’ Table.  Finally, after eight losses, I moved to the Winners’ Table, and I stayed there the rest of the evening.  Although I made it to the Winners’ Table, it wasn’t soon enough.  Before you knew it, the game was over, and I was given the title “The Biggest Loser”.

At first, I was a little sad that it was my worst ever Bunco score.  That was short-lived because I soon found out that the “Biggest Loser” was actually the “Biggest Winner” in my book.  The “Biggest Loser” was celebrated just as much, if not even more than the winner in my opinion.  I received a sandalwood and amber candle, shea butter hand cream, and foaming hand soap.  I smiled to myself, and I told God that he had a sense of humor.

In Luke 15, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were fussing and complaining because Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and sinners who came to hear him speak.  This is the parable that Jesus told them, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15: 4-7)

That night, I was the little sheep.  The ladies had joyfully placed me on their shoulders and celebrated my loss.

 

 

God bless,

 

Katina