Jenny's Pearls

Jenny was a bright-eyed five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mom were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $5. She loved those pearls. When she asked her mom if she could buy it for her, her mom said "Well, it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what, when we get home we can do a list of chores to help you pay for the necklace. And don't forget next weekend when Grandma is coming to visit she might give you a dollar, too." Jenny agreed.

How she loved her pearl necklace. She wore them everywhere, at kindergarten, to bed, and even when she did an errand with her mom. The only time she didn't wear them was when she took a shower, because her mother told her it would turn her neck green.

Jenny had a loving father. Every night he would read Jenny her favorite story. One night after reading to her he asked, "Jenny, do you love me?"

"Oh yes daddy, you know I love you." Jenny replied.

He said, "well then give me your pearls."

"Oh no, not my pearls," Jenny answered. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me for my birthday. You can have Rosie if you want to, daddy." she added.

"That's okay darling," her father replied. He brushed her cheeks with a kiss good night, "Sweet dreams little one."


A few days later after her favorite story, her father asked Jenny again, "Jenny, do you love me?"

"Oh yes daddy, you know I love you."

"Well then give me your pearls."

"No, not my pearls," Jenny answered. "But you can have Robin, my toy horse. Her hair is so soft, and you can play and braid it and everything. You can have Robin if you want her daddy."

"That's okay darling," her father replied. He brushed her cheeks with a kiss good night, "Good night little one, God bless."

A week later, her father went to Jenny's room to read. When he was done he asked her again, "Jenny, do you love me?"

"Yes daddy, I do." Jenny replied. Her lips started to tremble. She held out her hand and there was her beloved pearl necklace. Her father took the necklace in one hand, and with the other slipped out from his pocket a blue velvet box. He handed it to Jenny. She lifted up the lid, and inside the box she saw a real genuine pearl necklace.

It was beautiful.

Her father had had them all along,he was just waiting for Jenny to give up her cheap necklace.

So it is with our Father in Heaven, He wants to bless us with real treasures in life. We need to think what we hold onto in our lives and ponder what God might give us in their place.