Look beyond the packaging.

March 6, 2004

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had

admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father

could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had

purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his

private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and

told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a

lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, " With all your money you

give me a Bible? " and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a

beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and

thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation

day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father

had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to

come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his

heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the

still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the

Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse,

Matt 7:11, " And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who

ask Him? "

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a

tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had

desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN

FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we

expected?

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

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