I have a terrible habit of writing long intros. Some story pops in my head and I have to tell it. I often come up with an application just so I can tell my story. Here I am this time with an intro to my intro. Forgive me and keep reading. 

  

I had the most interesting dream last night; one I'm writing down before I forget it. Jason and I were on an overnight getaway. We so happened to notice there were horse races going on to the left of the highway. We decided to eat at a connected restaurant. The waiter not only could take your order, but he could take your bet too. 

I remember there was a display showing all the horses that would be racing. Some horses' pictures had ribbons boasting won championships. I scanned the names and each horse's record and impulsively chose one named "Betty" whose name wasn't the slightest bit interesting and whose record was nonexistent. We gave the waiter three dollars. 

I'm sure you can guess, Betty won. 

After high-fiving Jason, and complete strangers, I hightailed it to the desk where you get your earnings. The lady behind the counter gave me three one-thousand dollar cash cards. 

To finish this long introduction,  Rhea Perlman (better known as Carla from Cheers) stole my money after we'd layed our belongings down for just a split second. I chased her on foot as she drove off in her brown Chevette. 

Here she is. 

I lost the money. 

I thought, as my dream was coming to a close, about how I wanted to share my story with everybody at church, but decided I couldn't because I probably wasn't supposed to be at the horse races anyway, being a Baptist pastor's wife. 

This morning I woke Jason up and made him listen to every detail...how I cheered Betty on to the win.  I thought about how giddy I was when the lady handed over the three thousand bucks (in cash cards). 

Out of my slumber I realize how I'm how grateful I am for having chose Betty,...and  for having won! I'm even thankful for Rhea Perlman too. Sure she stole my money. 

Looking back, she's part of the experience. 

I find it no coincidence that my daughter and I were just talking about the inevitability of loss in life last night. 

We gain and we lose. Loss happens in relationships and in opportunities; you lose a friend...an opportunity falls through the cracks. In times of tenderness we can be guilty of wishing we'd not had certain opportunities given the unlikeable outcome. 

Time and wakefulness weave our experiences, good and bad, into something that increases in beauty as our experience becomes more complete. 

I'm without that three-thousand dollars I clutched with my eyes closed, but I'm not empty-handed. I'm left with the memory of winning and the image of Rhea Perlman's taillights. In our wins and losses, we always have our story. That's something we can take to the bank. 

Embrace your story. 

What loss have you suffered in the past that you can now be grateful for?