Once upon a time there was a child born to a husband and wife that was so very special. The little girl was the focus of their whole lives. They considered her a treasure that they could not love too much. From the day she was born they gave her a gift every day. Sometimes it was a large gift, like a puppy or a fancy doll house. Some days it was just a special gift like a smile or a hug. But every day there was a gift awaiting the little girl.
At first, the little girl looked forward to the special gift. She thanked her parents as she enjoyed her gift. She even shared her gifts sometimes with her friends. But after a while the gifts became just a part of her life and she did not look forward to the gifts. Instead she started to feel that her parents owed her the gifts. She started to ask for certain things instead of enjoying what they gave her. If the gift was not what she wanted or asked for, she would just throw it in her room and look for a better gift. She also no longer shared her gifts with anyone else but kept them all to herself.
Then one day, the little girl, who was no longer little but had grown into a young woman, received a letter from her parents telling her that she would no longer receive gifts after a month. She thought back over all the years and all the special gifts her parents had given her, and with tears in her eyes, the young woman finally realized that the gifts were not the real treasures, but the love behind the gifts was indeed the real treasure.
When have you taken God’s love for granted?
When have you treasured the gift more than the Giver?
Do you share God’s gifts with others or do you keep them only to yourself?
Do you see every day as a Gift from God?
How much do you treasure the ultimate gift of Love – eternal life through the death of Jesus?
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ONCE UPON A TIME 