Giving over the fake pearls...

There was a young lady who loved someone very much. Almost too much. Her mother would ask her on occasion if she would be willing to give that someone over to God if He would ask her to. The young girl did not like to think about things like that. Why would God make her give up something so wonderful?

A couple years passed and the woman very reluctantly gave this someone to God. She didn't understand why God would be putting her through this. Why would He not want her to have the best?

Her mother sat her down and told her this story...

There was a little girl who had a set of fake pearls. This little girl loved her necklace more than anything she possessed.

One night when her father was tucking her into bed he kissed her on the forehead then asked,

Do you love me?

Of course I do, Daddy. You know that, the little girl squeezed his neck.

Do you love me enough to give me your pearl necklace? he inquired.

She didn't understand. Why would her daddy want her to give up her necklace? Didn't he know how much she loved those pearls?

Several nights passed and each night her father would ask her the same question.

Do you love me more than that pearl necklace...

Would you give it up for me?

One night when the Father entered the room the little girl was sitting up in bed waiting for him. She looked distraught, yet very determined. Her Father sat on the bed next to her.

She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face, Daddy, I do love you... I love you more than my pearls...

She opened her little hand and in it lay her prized possession.

Her Father took those beads ever so lovingly, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. The little girl opened the box and pulled out a beautiful strand of real pearls. The little girl smiled through her tears and hugged her daddy. These pearls were far more beautiful and precious than her fake beads, and her daddy had just been waiting for her to give up her fake ones.

My mom taught me a valuable lesson; one I will never forget. Sometimes what we think is so wonderful is really not. Sometimes we hold on to those fake pearls, unaware that God has something even more wonderful in store for us. I gave up my fake pearls a long time ago, but I know that my heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing away, unless He means to give us something far better instead.

God having provided some better thing for us... (Hebrews 11:40)

I am linking up with Chatting at the Sky for Tuesdays unwrapped.