Mary's Pearls

AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Mary's Pearls

There is a story told of a little girl by the name of Mary. Mary had one thing in her life that was more important to her than anything else in the world. The reason they were so important to her is because she had earned them all by herself. She had done lots and lots of chores around the house and for every chore she finished her mother would give her a little bit of money. Well she saved and saved until the day finally came when she had enough money to go and buy her plastic pearls.

When Mary got to the toy store she had the pearls on before she even got out the door. Before long EVERYONE knew how much Mary loved her pearls, she wore them to school, she wore them to church, she wore them in the sand box, she wore them to bed, she even wore them in the bathtub. Well, like I said, everyone knew how much loved her pearls

Well, one day Mary's dad came home from work, and as always, he walked in, put down his things, took off his shoes, and went over to sit in his big comfortable chair. Mary always waited for her dad to get home from work, so just when he sat down, in came Mary running through the door, and she jumped up on his lap and gave him a great big hug and a kiss and she said "Oh, Daddy, I'm so glad you're home from work. I miss you SOOOO much today! I love you Daddy." Her father replied, "I missed you too Mary. I sure do love you... But Mary, do you really love me?" Mary said, "You know I love you Dad." Her dad said, "I know, but do you REALLY, really love me?" Mary said, "Of course I love you, Dad, I tell you all the time." Dad said, "Mary, will you give me your pearls?" Mary giggled, "Don't be silly Daddy, those are my plastic pearls." Mary jumped off his lap a ran off to play.
The next day Mary's dad came home from work, put down his things, took off his shoes, and went over to sit in his big comfortable chair, in came Mary running through the door, and she jumped up on his lap and gave him a great big kiss and she said "Oh, Daddy, I'm so glad you're home from work. I miss you SOOOO much today! I love you Daddy." Her father replied, "I missed you too Mary. I love you too... But Mary, do you really love me?" Mary said, "Dad, why do you keep asking me that, you KNOW I love you" Her dad said, "I know, but do you REALLY, really love me?" Mary said, "Yes, I really, really love you." Dad said, "Mary, will you give me your pearls?" Mary just looked at him sadly, got off his lap and walked away.

And again, the next day came, Mary's dad came home from work, put down his things, took off his shoes, and went over to sit in his big comfortable chair, a few minutes later Mary came walking in the room. She walked over and got up on his lap and said "Hi Dad, I sure did miss you today." Her father replied, "I missed you too Mary." Mary said, "I sure do love you, Dad." Her dad said, "I love you too Mary, but Mary, do you really love me?" Mary's hear started beating a little faster. She knew what was coming but she said, "Yes, I really love you." Dad said, "Mary, will you give me your pearls?" Mary started to cry, and she jumped off his lap and ran to her room and she cried and cried. She couldn't understand why her dad would ask her to give up her favorite thing in the whole world. He knew how much she loved her pearls. Finally, she cried herself to sleep.

The next day Mary's dad came home from work, put down his things, took off his shoes, and went over to sit in his big comfortable chair. A little while later Mary walked into the room. She walked over to her dad and scooted herself into he lap. She just sat there for a few minutes, then she looked up at her dad, and with tears in her eyes she said, "Daddy, I love you." She opened up her little hand and gave him her plastic pearls. Just then her dad reached in her pocket and pulled out a beautiful strand of real pearls and put them around her neck.



How often does the Lord ask us to give up something good for something better?

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.