There once was a daughter who was deeply loved by her father. From the first moment he held her in his arms, his love for her was undeniable. One afternoon the daughter came home from school to find a box on the table. The box was perfectly wrapped and topped with a sparkly pink bow. After her father motioned to the box she eagerly unwrapped it while he watched her, smiling ear to ear. Inside she found a pearl necklace. It was beautiful, it looked like a necklace worn in the movies. She felt so grown up and it sparkled and shined when she put it on. She wore the pearl necklace each and every day, hardly willing to take it off to sleep. She felt so seen and loved and special, that necklace represented her daddy’s love and she treasured it dearly. 

One day just like every other day, she was sitting with her father in the living room when he did the unimaginable, her father asked for the necklace back. She was devastated. She cried, closed her fingers around that necklace and refused to give it back. She couldn’t believe he would do that to her. She couldn’t believe he would want to take away her very favourite gift. Filled with sadness, shame and a new questioning of his love for her, she began to fill with doubt and fear. Did he still love her? Had he ever loved her? What had she done wrong? 

That gorgeous necklace that once caused her to feel seen and loved now reminded her of her own lack and made her feel unworthy of that love. With her shoulders slumped over, tears streaming down her cheeks, she slowly approached her father and handed over the once treasured necklace.

Her father took that necklace and carefully picked her up in his arms. After he held her, he gently wiped each tear from her face and slowly reached into his pocket. In his pocket was another box. A black velvet box, that when opened by that little girl would reveal a new necklace, more beautiful than the first. In this box held a real, genuine and priceless strand of pearls. A gift that could only be received if she trusted her father enough to let go of the counterfeit.

I’ve heard this story a few times and it always brings a fresh wave of tears. A perfectly timed reminder of my own lack of understanding. How often do I cling to what I already have, unwilling to open my hand to what God has for me? How often do I feel shame and despair when something comes to an end. How often do I fear He’s left me when he’s trying to bring me into His perfect plans. Why is my first instinct to believe I’m being punished instead of rewarded, entrusted with something greater? Why am I so desperate to hang on to what is counterfeit?

I wonder if you can relate.  

I wonder what you could be clinging to. 

What are your hands clenched around?

What you think is too great to willingly trust him with?

I wonder if today you could open your hands and utter these words “Father I trust you.”  And I wonder what beautiful new gifts he will have in store just for you, his precious daughter.