The Treasure

The Treasureby 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.

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

(FROM LILY: Give everything you need to over to the Lord, for it is with the Lord, you will find true Treasure! Thank you Jesus!)

My baby is growing up! Awwwh!

Asia and Mommy

I never thought I’d say that I would be sad about my baby’s first day of Kindergarten. But guys, I’ve got to tell you I was. Yes, that smile of ours above marked the start to her ongoing education for years to come, but deep inside when I left her on last Monday, I cried inside. If you know anything about Asia and I, you would know that we’ve been through some things. But all in all, it’s been together. Asia, now five year’s old, is a beautiful and strong little girl, with so much wisdom for such a small, compact, once pre-mature little angel. The times we’ve shared over the years I can not get back, but I look forward to what’s ahead. Friends, please pray my strength. She’s my baby and she’s growing up! I love her dearly and pray nothing but blessings over her life in the mighty name of Jesus! This truly starts the first day of the rest of her life!

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way she should go: and when she is old, she will not depart from it” (italics and emphasis mine). Lord I ask that you help me to do just that all the days of my life. May she be blessed, prosperous, and remembered in the land as having a right standing with you and an example for others. May she bear children, that will follow in her footsteps as Kings and Queens of the Most High God! I thank you for the opportunity to bear her deep within my womb-at a time I never thought I would be able to. For that I am grateful. I pray protection, strength, and love to ever rest, rule, and abide over her life. Her friends and family will honor her, and her enemies will call her blessed! Hallelujah! I praise you Jesus this day and forevermore. Amen.

Asia near her classroom