The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with
her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening
white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!"


Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then
looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's
upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them,
I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can
save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week
away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted
out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and
she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick
dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her
another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the
necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She
wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The
only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble
bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for
bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read
her a story.

One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny,
"Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse
from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one
you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night."
And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again,
"Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new
one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the
yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting
on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he
noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her
cheek.

" What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy.
And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a
little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out
with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other
hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case
with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all
the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so
he could give her genuine treasure.

So like our heavenly Father. What are you hanging on to?

by Alice Gray

There have been many times I have not been ready to give up something, in order to get closer to God... He'll understand, It doesn't mean that much to Him, He'll forgive me again... when will I understand that all areas of my life mest be released to Him.

Dear Heavenly Father

Please, as this journey toward you continues...

allow me understand that what I give up, is for my ultimate good.

Knowing that what is in store for me is the best for me.

In Jesus' Name

Amen

Let us journey on...