The button was held on by a frayed piece of thread, and I kept fiddling with that one button over and over again, reminding myself to sew it on again so it wouldn’t get lost.  It was a day or so later when I realized it wasn’t there.

The coat holds sentimental value and the buttons are over thirty years old; replacing that button would not be easy.  I started looking everywhere – on the floor, on beds, under beds, under chairs (you get the picture). One never knows where a lost button might turn up.  Indeed.

Several days later, after touching the broken strands of thread for days and wondering where the button could be, I happened to look down and see the button, lying on the ground in the midst of damp drizzle and puddles.  (Hadn’t I already retraced these steps?) It is now safely attached to the coat with strong thread.

Often life is like losing that button.  We hone in on that one thing we must find and look and look and it all seems to no avail. And then suddenly, in the least expected place, at the least expected time, we happen to take another look, and there it is.  Sometimes this happens in counseling too.  I like the word unexpected because that describes a lot of life.  Often it is in the mundane activities that the surprises and answers come out of nowhere.  Look diligently and keep your eyes open.

Marlayne Whitlock, M.A., LAPC

mwhitlock@ GROWcounseling.com