Tuesday, July 19, 2011

surrendering

“Jenny was a bright eyed, pretty five years old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace glistening 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. 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 them the whole time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.”

He always knows what’s best for us. Why am I blinded by my own thoughts when He asks me to surrender something valuable to me? Remember, If He takes something good away from me, it is only because He has something even greater in store for me.

(Reblogged)

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Go Go Summer!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii blog! :)
Sorry I have been writing these day. I have been quite busy Japan going to classes, learning about its culture, and visiting famous sites, etc. It's been SO GREAT here. My host family is so nice, the bulldog is the cutest ever (it makes the same noise as me "GRRRrrr"), teachers are funny, LSA+ group is awesomeee, I'm also awesome? Hehe I am sooo thankful that God has given me this opportunity to get myself back together. I have been waking up every morning with so much energy and joy that could only be coming from Him. It's interesting because I came thinking that I miiiight go to a church. Maybe. The first day I arrived at my host family's house, I was given a map with a highlighted route to a Catholic church with an English mass! Apparently the previous exchange student who lived here went to church every Sunday! Crazy much?

Actually though, I haven't been able to go last week because of a welcoming party and can't do this week due to an excursion buuuut I will the following week!

I pray that wherever you are that this summer will be an opportunity for a change of heart, for a closer relationship with the one who loves us more than anything else in this world. :)

Thankyouu