"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,
and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure
is there you heart will be also."

 
                           The Treasure
 

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five.  Waiting
with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of
glistening white pearls 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 Indian-style.  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 had them all
the time.  He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff
so he could give her genuine treasure.

So like our heavenly Father.

What are you hanging on to?

                         (By Alice Gray as printed in "More Stories for the Heart")