A Father's Love

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 disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and while the young man was successful in business, had a beautiful home and a wonderful family he had a restlessness in his soul. He needed to make amends with his father. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a message telling him his father had passed away and that he needed to come home immediately and take care things.  When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and  regret filled his heart.  His father had left him everything.  He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it so many years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind 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.

A pearl to string:  How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?  I was struck by this story.  The father had given his son his hearts' desire wrapped in the Word of God.  What the father wanted to 'drive' home with his son was the greater gift is to 'walk' with the Lord.  

Don't run out naked in the world today.... clothe your heart in the Word.  Pick up your Bible and read what God has for you today.  "Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him".  (Proverbs 30:5)  

You are loved,

                 Lyndi