The Graduation Gift
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many
months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and
knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his
father had purchased the car.
Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his
private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son,
and told him how much he loved him.
He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat
disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely,
leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.
Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money
you give me a Bible?" And stormed out of the house, leaving the
Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in
business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized
his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go visit him.
He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed
away, and willed all of his possessions to his son.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled
his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and
saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.
With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father
had carefully underlined a verse, As he read those words, a car key
dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's
name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag
was the date of his graduation, and the words... ...PAID IN FULL
How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged
as we expected?
~Author Unknown to me~