I thought today I'd share a little parable that I used for my Young Women's lesson on Sunday. It is a great way to describe the Law of Sacrifice.
JENNY'S PEARLS
A small, bouncy little girl was at the store with her mommy one day. At the checkout stand, on a small table, she noticed a display with a little pick jewelry box, lined with shiny satin. Inside the box, laid the prettiest little pearl necklace she had ever seen, just her size.
"Oh, Mommy! Look at the beautiful necklace! Please, can I have it?"
Jenny's mother couldn't afford the pearls, but told Jenny that if she worked really hard and saved all her money, it wouldn't be long before she could buy the pearls for herself.
Jenny worked and worked and saved and saved until finally the day came. She skipped to the store, bought the necklace and brought them home to her bedroom. She lifted the necklace out of the box and fingered them with awe. Occasionally she would wear them, but mostly they sat in their perfect little box, a little girl's prized possession.
One day, Jenny's daddy came into Jenny's room. "Jenny", he asked tenderly. "Do you love me?"
"Oh, yes, Daddy! You know how much I love you!"
"Then please give me your pearls."
"OH! Daddy I love my pearls! I could never give them away. You may have my princess dolly. Or my shiny new shoes. You may have them."
"I need your pearls, honey, but I will wait until you are ready. Sleep well." Jenny's Daddy gave her a kiss on the cheek and left Jenny's room.
A few days later, Jenny's daddy came into her room again and found Jenny sitting cross-legged on the bed, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Sweetheart, what is the matter?" He asked.
"Daddy, I love you and trust you. I don't know why you need my pearl necklace, but I will give it to you because I love you more than anything."
She lifted the dimestore necklace out of the perfect, pink little box and handed it to her father.
He smiled tenderly, took it from her tiny, outstretched hand, and gave her a hug. Then, to Jenny's surprise, he pulled from his jacket pocket . . . a real pearl necklace.
(Author Unknown)
I love this sweet little story! I love the tenderness of a small child and her "daddy." He wanted to swap the little plastic pearls for so long, to be able to bless his little daughter with the real treasure. It was such a trial of Jenny's faith to give the one thing, the best of all she had, to her daddy, even though she loved him. But once the offering was made, her pure love was known and she laid claim on the blessings of her sacrifice. I know that sacrificing my time, talents, abilities, energy, possessions, pride, and ultimately, my heart is the way to show my Father the love I have for Him. I look forward to the day when I will have the faith that little Jenny did, and be able to offer Him all that I have in pure, childlike submission and faith.
JENNY'S PEARLS
A small, bouncy little girl was at the store with her mommy one day. At the checkout stand, on a small table, she noticed a display with a little pick jewelry box, lined with shiny satin. Inside the box, laid the prettiest little pearl necklace she had ever seen, just her size.
"Oh, Mommy! Look at the beautiful necklace! Please, can I have it?"
Jenny's mother couldn't afford the pearls, but told Jenny that if she worked really hard and saved all her money, it wouldn't be long before she could buy the pearls for herself.
Jenny worked and worked and saved and saved until finally the day came. She skipped to the store, bought the necklace and brought them home to her bedroom. She lifted the necklace out of the box and fingered them with awe. Occasionally she would wear them, but mostly they sat in their perfect little box, a little girl's prized possession.
One day, Jenny's daddy came into Jenny's room. "Jenny", he asked tenderly. "Do you love me?"
"Oh, yes, Daddy! You know how much I love you!"
"Then please give me your pearls."
"OH! Daddy I love my pearls! I could never give them away. You may have my princess dolly. Or my shiny new shoes. You may have them."
"I need your pearls, honey, but I will wait until you are ready. Sleep well." Jenny's Daddy gave her a kiss on the cheek and left Jenny's room.
A few days later, Jenny's daddy came into her room again and found Jenny sitting cross-legged on the bed, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Sweetheart, what is the matter?" He asked.
"Daddy, I love you and trust you. I don't know why you need my pearl necklace, but I will give it to you because I love you more than anything."
She lifted the dimestore necklace out of the perfect, pink little box and handed it to her father.
He smiled tenderly, took it from her tiny, outstretched hand, and gave her a hug. Then, to Jenny's surprise, he pulled from his jacket pocket . . . a real pearl necklace.
(Author Unknown)
I love this sweet little story! I love the tenderness of a small child and her "daddy." He wanted to swap the little plastic pearls for so long, to be able to bless his little daughter with the real treasure. It was such a trial of Jenny's faith to give the one thing, the best of all she had, to her daddy, even though she loved him. But once the offering was made, her pure love was known and she laid claim on the blessings of her sacrifice. I know that sacrificing my time, talents, abilities, energy, possessions, pride, and ultimately, my heart is the way to show my Father the love I have for Him. I look forward to the day when I will have the faith that little Jenny did, and be able to offer Him all that I have in pure, childlike submission and faith.
.jpg)
1 comments:
I love that story. I hope I have that much faith too!
Post a Comment