The Dollar Ninety-Five Necklace
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 mommy 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 to do.
In no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.
Your birthday is only a week away, and you might get another crisp dollar bill from your 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.
She then went to her neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for her for ten cents.
On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new crisp dollar bill.
At last she had enough money to buy the necklace
Jenny really loved her pearls.
They made her feel all dressed up and all grown up.
She wore them everywhere, to sunday school, to kindergarten, and even to bed.
The only time she took them off was when she went swimming, or she had to take a bubble bath.
For her mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny also had a very loving daddy.
Every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a bedtime 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.
Instead, daddy, 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 still loves you.
Good night."
Then he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the bedtime story time, Jenny's daddy asked the same question again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls.
Instead, you can have my baby doll.
The brand new one that I got for my birthday.
She is beautiful, and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay honey, her Daddy said.”
“Sleep well.”
“May God bless you, little one.”
“Daddy still loves you."
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 was rolling down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny?
What's the matter?"
Jenny didn't say anything, she just lifted up her little hand to her daddy.
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.
With the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine, cultured pearls.
He then 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 he had bought for her.
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 pearls, jewels, and treasures in heaven.
Remember, God will never take away something that is precious to you, without giving you something better in return.
A. Pass this story on and let others be touched and blessed by its message.
B. Let it also touch your own heart and mind.
For the greatest gifts and miracles happen when you share your love, your talents, and your warm embrace, with others.
They happen when you share a message of peace, loving kindness, mercy, charity, and grace.
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