There is nothing as bad as losing an item. Be it big small, there is always some level of attachment and it hurts when the item is lost or stolen. The situation gets worse when it is a mobile phone. Out of all the things we own, this by far seems to be our most prized possessions. It is something we have all day and night round, almost forms part of our beings so to speak. In fact it can be regarded as 'part of the family'. That being said, you can imagine the emotions my mother experienced when she discovered her phone was missing.
At first we were all casual thinking it was in the car or, in her bag or the room and started calling it so as to find it. The first tell-tale signs that all was not well when we could not find it. We all got frantic looking for it: in the car, in her bag, in the shopping, in the garage, we had to find it. We checked, rechecked around the house, called the phone severally but to no avail. At one point it was as if someone was disconnecting it so we feared for the worst. We called the phone repeatedly, my aunt even sent a text message telling whoever had the phone and wanted to return it should contact her. Of course there was a subtle call to do the right thing by telling the individual that if he or she did not return it, they were at God's mercy and they would be dealt with appropriately. The choice was theirs.
My mother looked disturbed but at the same time, oh so calm. I did not understand it. On the inside I was so angry and could not understand why this was happening. In the past my mother had lost most her phones to hapless thugs and it was indeed frustrating. Now she finally had a phone she loved and was conversant with and now it disappeared? Not cool! As I was checking around I whispered a prayer; one of those prayers you should not really pray but I prayed it anyway. I guess it was frustration.
"God, what is this? Why is this happening? Does this mean that mum will lose all her phones? And the way she was happy with it?! Lord, please help us find it. May whoever has stolen it get so sick and convicted that they return it. If they try to sell it may it no one offer to buy it. May you convict the person until the only thing the individual can do is to return the phone." A bit harsh I know but I was sick of all the this thuggery. Thoughts of how pickpockets get into our public vehicles and rob us blind ran through my mind. At that point I understood the anger and drive of those who dish out mob justice. I was just dugusted, yet something within me told me to take this positively and try learn from the whole experience.
"Really? There is nothing positive about this," I thought and quickly shelved that idea.
I went back into the house,we called Safaricom Customer Care as my mother tried retracing her steps. That phone had to be found at all costs. My aunties suggested we go back to the shopping mall where she had last been and check for it there. They spoke with such conviction and belief that the phone was there and cracked a few light jokes on how one of the shop attendants probably had it but was confused about what to do with it.
My mother and my aunties dashed to the shopping mall and headed straight to the specific shop attendant my mother had dealt it. Meanwhile, as they went ahead I checked out with the guards at the parking lot and the mall to see if they had seen it. The guards were so nice and offered to help. Bless their souls. Just as the guards were about to check with one other guards, I saw my mother and aunts walking towards me smiling: thumbs up. They had found it. :-)! Truly God was faithful.
Apparently the shop attendant had seen it but was unsure about what to do with it. She saw the numerous calls and was unsure about receiving the calls, or replying the messages. Therefore, she decided to hold on to the phone and when the owner came by she would return it, and she did. We thanked God and thought of what a miracle and a blessing it was to have found it. As we left the shop, my faith was somewhat restored in the people of this century. Amidst all the bad and ugly there still runs some good in people.
