The Treasure

by Alice Gray as printed in "More Stories for the Heart"



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 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.

I couldn't help but think when I read this, how often we do this type of thing in our spiritual walk.  I thought about how I did this with salvation.  I professed salvation for a long time.  I talked the talk, but can't say that I truly walked the walk.  In front of others, I showed a counterfeit version of salvation, just as the little girl had a counterfeit set of pearls .  I let everyone see what I wanted them to, and meanwhile, God was trying to trade my counterfeit salvation for real salvation.  He did this, all because He loved me and wanted the best for me.  I look at other things in my life that are material.  Many times, I have suffered through sickness just because I didn't let God take over.  God truly wants the best for His children.  As I mentioned in my last blog, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  This whole world is His as well as everything in it.  We so many times sell ourselves short of blessings simply because we don't ask Him for it.  A lot of times, I don't get what I want because I don't consult my Father.  This past week has been such a learning experience for me.  I was laid off from my job along with everyone else that works here.  I was able to get my income tax money to pay the bills for the month, thank God!  But, through the week, I prayed, God help me find another job.  I couldn't find anything that would pay the same or even close to what I was making.  I said, okay God, show me what I need to apply for.  He told me, just be still.  Let me work.  I will make a way.  So, I stayed put.  Had I moved on my own and not let Him work, I'd be miserable.  I am back to work today, with the same company, and God is opening up doors for several new jobs.  We started one today and there's another that we're starting soon.  My God is able!  He wants the best for me.  It also opened up a door for me to apply to the LPN program at the college.  I'm waiting to see if I got accepted. 

  When we trade our worries with God and just praise Him for who He is, He just gives us blessings beyond measure.  When we offer up what we have to Him, He will give us more than we ever asked for.  We must sacrifice the small things in order to get the best.  Give up your fake pearls for the real deal!