Precious

This isn't my original, I just emphasized it a bit here and there, enjoy.. :)

"Daddy, daddy, look what mommy bought for me!"
the little girl shows her dad the plastic pearl necklace her mom has just bought for her at the store just now. The little girl continues talking,
"I'm gonna take real good care of it and show it to all my friends and treasure it forever and ever and ever."
the speechless husband looks at his wife, with a wide grin on his face.

That night, like every other night, the little girl's dad came to her room to read her a bedtime story. After he had finished, he asked his daughter,
"Whose daddy's little girl?"
"Me!"
"can you daddy your pearl necklace?"
"No!" said the little girl while pouting. The dad smiled, kissed her goodnight and went back to his room.

The next night, he did the same thing, the little girl yet again refuses to give up her precious possession. Night after night her daddy asked, night after night she refused. Her dad kept asking but he never forced her.

One night, when he went to her room, he found her standing with her head facing the floor and tears in her eyes. She stretched out her hand and gave her daddy her most precious pearl necklace. Her daddy smiled, took the necklace, put in a side and took out a beautiful, real, genuine pearl necklace.

Are we, at times, like the little girl? Living in our own fantasy, not willing to let go what seems precious to us but isn't meant for us? Even if God asked us over and over and over again? He wants to give us something better. If we don't let go, how then, can He give us what is meant for us? Because you are precious to Him, that's why He cared. ;)