2006-04-11 - 8:55 a.m.
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting "Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for "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 "That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new "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 "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that God wants God will never take away something without giving you something better in
2006-06-21-Chaplin facing courtmarshall for praying
with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening
white pearls in a pink foil box.
back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.
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."
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.
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.
bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her
a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you
love me?"
my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one
you gave me. She's my very favorite."
cheek with a kiss.
"Do you love me?"
one got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow
blanket that matches her sleeper."
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.
when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little
quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you."
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.
dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with
our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things
in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary people,
relationships, habits and activities that you have come so attached to
that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see
what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing.
its place.
Make This A Favorite
2006-06-20-Thanks
2006-06-16-Owie
2006-05-23-No Standing Still
2006-05-17-Spirit-Filled, by Bill Sherrill