FOODFORTHOUGHT

THE GIFT
Author Unknown
September 21, 2009


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 beautifully 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.

Angry, 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 to 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. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. 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, Matt. 7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your
Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" 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?
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