Message-ID: <6924286.1075862392400.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2001 10:41:54 -0800 (PST) From: mich888@aol.com Subject: A very special story Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: MICH888@aol.com X-To: LIONMELODY@aol.com, CAIRBEAR21@aol.com, timdawnsierra@yahoo.com, FRIDAY0534@aol.com, jeff.jostad@emersonprocess.com, Staab, Theresa , petersjeffry@yahoo.com, carmen.peters@nissan-usa.com, jo4angels@gbonline.com, MBrueckner@valscale.com, beefbcb@venomtech.com X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \TSTAAB (Non-Privileged)\Staab, Theresa\Deleted Items X-Origin: Staab-T X-FileName: TSTAAB (Non-Privileged).pst Subj: FW: [thekleins] A Very Special Story {01} Date: 11/16/01 8:42:15 AM Central Standard Time From: Lori.Ollila@globalcrossing.com (Ollila, Lori) To: bncbrown@netzero.net (Brenda Brown (E-mail)), JNooyen@stvgb.org (Jackie Nooyen (E-mail)), Kerrie.Kennedy@globalcrossing.com (Kennedy, Kerrie), Lisa.Voelker@nsighttel.com (Lisa Voelker (E-mail)), mich888@aol.com (Michelle Jostad (E-mail)), Michelle.Steinfeldt@globalcrossing.com (Steinfeldt, Michelle) -----Original Message----- From: Rev. Carl Klein [mailto:kleinc@jps.net] Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:40 PM To: Ollila, Lori Subject: [thekleins] A Very Special Story {01} THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL > > > > The cheerful little 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 as 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 very >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 baby >doll. > > The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is >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, > > this is for you." With tears gathering in his own >eyes, Jenny's > > 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 all the >time. > > He was just waiting for her to give up the >dime-store stuff so > > he could give her the genuine treasure. ***** > > > > So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting >for us to > > give up the cheap things in our lives so that he >can give us > > beautiful treasures. > > > > Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that >God > > wants you to let go of. Are you holding on to >harmful or > > unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and >activities that > > you have come so attached to that it seems >impossible to let > > go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the >other hand > > but do believe this one thing ..... God will never >take away > > something without giving you something better in >its place. ********************************** > > > > You can do two things with this story: > > A. Pass it on and let others be touched by its >message; or > > B. Throw it away and not let it touch your heart. > > > > The greatest gifts happen when you share love and >touch others >'hearts!