Heard an awesome story yesterday, and thought it fit the feel of the blog. So, here's my quick thought and motivation for today.
Jenny was with her mother walking down the street, when a necklace of pearls caught her eye in the window of a dime store. She was mesmerized by the sight of such a thing, and begged her mother to buy them for her. Her mother flipped the packaging over to find a $1.99 price tag, and told her that if she were to work and save for a couple weeks that she would probably be able to buy them on her own. Jenny's birthday was coming up, and maybe her grandmother would give her another crisp dollar bill which would also help in her pursuit for the pearls.
Jenny was immediately excited by the idea, and went straight home to do more than her fair share of the chores that evening around the house. The next day she went next door to her neighbor's house offering to pick the dandelions in their yard for $.10. Her birthday came a few days later, and her grandmother in fact gave her a crisp dollar bill which gave her enough money to buy the prized necklace at last.
Jenny was so proud of the pearls she wore them everywhere, and only took them off to shower after her mother told her that her neck would turn green if she did not. Her father was a busy man, but he always took the time to come in when Jenny was ready for bed, and read her a story. After about a week of Jenny and her pearls, her dad came in one night and asked, "Jenny, do you love me?" She replied, "Of course I do daddy." Her father continued, "Then give me your pearls." "Oh no daddy, not my pearls. You can take my pony, the white one with the pink tail, she's my favorite one. Please take her daddy, and not my pearls." He read Jenny her story, and kissed her goodnight.
Another week passed, and Jenny's father repeated the same scene from the week prior asking, "If you love me, then give me your pearls." This time Jenny offered up her new baby doll she had just received for her birthday. She even wanted her father to take the crib and blankets that came along with it, but he kissed her goodnight once again letting her know that it was okay.
A few days later Jenny's father came into her room to read her a story before bed to find her sitting on the bed with her legs crossed Indian style. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and in her hands she held her prized necklace of pearls. Though crying, she managed to get out, "Here daddy. Here are my pearls. I love you so much, and I want you to have them." Jenny's father, through tears of his own at this point, took the pearls from his little girl's hands, and reached into his own pocket pulling out a blue velvet box. He offered it to her, and upon opening the box she found a real pearl necklace inside! Jenny's father had the real pearls for her the entire time, but waited until Jenny was ready and willing to give up her dime store necklace before giving her the real thing.
The author of this story is unknown, but I love the context it provides. How easy is it to hold on to things in our lives, and because of that, we miss out on the "real" joys in life? Whether it be anger towards another, or accepting mediocrity rather than pushing to improve, or even holding fast to a favorite vice, etc; small items such as these often prove to be the stumbling blocks that impede the true happiness and joy one can find by giving up the "fake" pearls to finally receive the "real" ones.
Jenny was with her mother walking down the street, when a necklace of pearls caught her eye in the window of a dime store. She was mesmerized by the sight of such a thing, and begged her mother to buy them for her. Her mother flipped the packaging over to find a $1.99 price tag, and told her that if she were to work and save for a couple weeks that she would probably be able to buy them on her own. Jenny's birthday was coming up, and maybe her grandmother would give her another crisp dollar bill which would also help in her pursuit for the pearls.
Jenny was immediately excited by the idea, and went straight home to do more than her fair share of the chores that evening around the house. The next day she went next door to her neighbor's house offering to pick the dandelions in their yard for $.10. Her birthday came a few days later, and her grandmother in fact gave her a crisp dollar bill which gave her enough money to buy the prized necklace at last.
Jenny was so proud of the pearls she wore them everywhere, and only took them off to shower after her mother told her that her neck would turn green if she did not. Her father was a busy man, but he always took the time to come in when Jenny was ready for bed, and read her a story. After about a week of Jenny and her pearls, her dad came in one night and asked, "Jenny, do you love me?" She replied, "Of course I do daddy." Her father continued, "Then give me your pearls." "Oh no daddy, not my pearls. You can take my pony, the white one with the pink tail, she's my favorite one. Please take her daddy, and not my pearls." He read Jenny her story, and kissed her goodnight.
Another week passed, and Jenny's father repeated the same scene from the week prior asking, "If you love me, then give me your pearls." This time Jenny offered up her new baby doll she had just received for her birthday. She even wanted her father to take the crib and blankets that came along with it, but he kissed her goodnight once again letting her know that it was okay.
A few days later Jenny's father came into her room to read her a story before bed to find her sitting on the bed with her legs crossed Indian style. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and in her hands she held her prized necklace of pearls. Though crying, she managed to get out, "Here daddy. Here are my pearls. I love you so much, and I want you to have them." Jenny's father, through tears of his own at this point, took the pearls from his little girl's hands, and reached into his own pocket pulling out a blue velvet box. He offered it to her, and upon opening the box she found a real pearl necklace inside! Jenny's father had the real pearls for her the entire time, but waited until Jenny was ready and willing to give up her dime store necklace before giving her the real thing.
The author of this story is unknown, but I love the context it provides. How easy is it to hold on to things in our lives, and because of that, we miss out on the "real" joys in life? Whether it be anger towards another, or accepting mediocrity rather than pushing to improve, or even holding fast to a favorite vice, etc; small items such as these often prove to be the stumbling blocks that impede the true happiness and joy one can find by giving up the "fake" pearls to finally receive the "real" ones.
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I like it, there are a few details of the story that I don't quite get but the overall message is sweet. It makes me think of the good, better, best concept
ReplyDeleteExactly! That was why I thought it was worth publishing. What details were confusing?
ReplyDeleteNothing clever to say other then legend!
ReplyDeleteI would have liked more detail with the father/daughter dynamic. All we get is him showing up and asking for the necklace each night, I would have liked more of their relationship shown. Also, I love the throw down in my blog this week! After running it, I think that would be an incredible experience to run with you, let’s just hope 2010 goes injury free!
ReplyDeleteNot sure where you found such an awes story, but please keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteIn my view, that was breathtakingly awes!