The Necklace (Beautiful Story)

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The NecklaceThe cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waitingwithher mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glisteningwhitepearls in a pink foil box."Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then lookedbackinto 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'llthinkof some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money tobuythem for yourself.. Your birthday's only a week away and you might getanothercrisp dollar bill from Grandma."As soon as got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17pennies. After

dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she wentto theneighbor and asked Mrs. Mc if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.Onher birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last shehadenough money to buy the necklace. loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. Sheworethem everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only timeshetook them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother saidifthey got wet, they might turn her neck green. had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed,hewould stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. Onenight as he finished the story, he asked , "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 frommycollection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gaveme.She's my very favorite.""That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheekwitha kiss.About a week later, after the story time, 's daddy asked again, "Doyoulove me?""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 oneI gotfor my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket thatmatches 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, was sitting on her bedwith herlegs crossed Indian style.As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling

and one silent tearrolleddown her cheek."What is it, ? What's the matter?" didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. Andwhenshe opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver,shefinally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you."With tears gathering in his own eyes, 's daddy reached out with onehand totake the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into hispocketand pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gavethemto ...He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up thedime-storestuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with ourHeavenlyFather. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives sothat hecan give us beautiful treasures.God will never take away something without giving

you something better initsplace.The greatest gifts happen when you share love and touch others.