| A little girl of about 7 years old was out shopping at | | | | pony. You can even have my barbie dolls, but just not |
| the local centre with her mother one day. They | | | | my pearls." Daddy kissed her goodnight and left the |
| happened to browse in a small beauty shop and | | | | room. |
| suddenly the little girl saw something hanging on the | | | | The same thing happened every night for the next |
| racks. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever | | | | month. Every night Daddy asked her to give him the |
| seen before in her life. She knew instantly that this | | | | pearls and every night she offered Daddy everything |
| string of artificial pearls had been created just for her | | | | else, except her pearls. |
| and that she must do anything to obtain the pearls. | | | | One night as Daddy walked in to the room to kiss his |
| "Mommy" she said, while showing her mom the pearls, | | | | precious little girl goodnight, she was crying. Tears |
| "I really, really want these pearls. They are the most | | | | were rolling down her face as she looked up at her |
| beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life." | | | | Daddy. She held out her hand and said "Here Daddy, |
| Mommy checked the price and they were R25-00. | | | | here are my pearls". It was a heart rendering moment |
| "How much money do you have saved up now" | | | | as the little girl handed over the biggest and most |
| Mommy asked the little girl. | | | | prized treasure that she had ever owned in her whole |
| "Oh, I have R10-00 saved at home but Mommy I will do | | | | entire life. It felt to her like she was giving away her life |
| anything to get these pearls". | | | | itself. |
| " Ok, I will tell you what, Let's ask the lady to try and | | | | Quietly her Daddy reached out and took the pearls |
| keep them for you and we will see if you can't earn | | | | from her. Daddy then gave her a big hug. Then without |
| some extra money by helping me clean the house and | | | | a word he put his hand deep into his pocket and pulled |
| maybe helping your Granny too." | | | | out something and gave it to her. "Here" he said, "this is |
| Off they went and the little girl became obsessed with | | | | for you but I could not give it to you before you were |
| helping at the house. She really wanted those pearls. | | | | willing to give me your old necklace". |
| She washed dishes, swept floors,cleaned rooms and | | | | It was a beautiful necklace of genuine pearls that he |
| before she knew it she had earned enough money to | | | | had had specially made for the little girl. |
| go and buy her pearls. | | | | Her Daddy had the pearls in his pocket for the past |
| The little girl loved those pearls, they were on her neck | | | | month, waiting for the little girl to give up the imitation |
| all day and even when she slept. | | | | pearls first, in order that he could give her the real |
| One night, as usual, when the little girl was in bed and | | | | pearls. |
| ready to sleep, her Daddy came in to kiss her | | | | Many times in our lives, there are those things that we |
| goodnight. | | | | hold onto and do not want to give to God. God can |
| Daddy asked her " How much do you love me?" " I | | | | not give us the special gift that he has already |
| love you more than anything in the whole wide world | | | | prepared for us, unless we are willing to hand over to |
| Daddy." "Give me your pearls," said her father. | | | | him some of the things that we guard as being |
| "Oh no Daddy. You can have my teddy or my little | | | | precious in our lives. |