Pearls & Perfection Pending

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Showing posts from January, 2015

Project Live Happily

Here's to the highly motivated phase of the new year. 1. Live Happily So far, I have read chapter one in Living Well Spending Less, and I love it so far! I feel like I am reading a book that I could have written myself in a lot of ways. She was so much like I am. We even spent a lot of our childhoods doing the same activity: planning dream houses. Secret #1: The Good Life is not what we think it is Here are some gems I took away: -where your treasure is, there will your heart be also -more is never enough -pray for change -don't define happiness by what you have, but by who you are -the good life and financial stability go hand in hand 2. Nourish & Strengthen Our Bodies Here's my visual so I can remember to follow through with all of the goals I have. For week 1, my goals are: -Eat 2 different fruits or vegetables at every breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal. -Work out 5 times -Drink 64 oz of water each day 3. Be Nice This week, I'd...

Living Happily...

Oh, New Year. How I have missed you. Thanks for reminding me to get it together, old friend. This year's theme ideas: Enough. I have enough. I know enough. We make enough. It's time I start to believe it. WOW 2015! ( Word of Wisdom reboot) Simplify...everything... Stop Spending All The Money, Denae...Shopaholics' Anonymous? Be nicer. Okay...so I have a lot I want to work on. Isn't that what January 1 is for? Here's what I've decided, and then I'll tell you how I got there: Theme: Living Happily Goal #1: Prioritize People and Memories over Money and Things Goal #2: Nourish & Strengthen Body Goal #3: Be Nice The past couple of years have been interesting and exhausting and nothing that I imagined they would be. I don't know if it's because I became a mother, or if I am just facing that mid(ish)-life panic--that people talk about--of wondering where I went wrong, but I've been struggling. Church. Organization. Feeli...

Pearls

I've had several life-shaping experiences in which I could feel the hand of God directing me. I am pretty stubborn and I love to plan. My husband would affirm that I usually know that my way is the right way. This story has helped me often to remember to let go. God has the real stuff. He really does know better than me, even when I don't believe it. I remind myself from time to time to give Him my dime-store stuff so He can offer me the real treasures.

The Pearl Necklace

The cheerful 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 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 and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from 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 and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when 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. But 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 favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my babydoll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And 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 rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver,she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and 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 genuine treasure.

What are you hanging on to?

Author Unknown