The tale of the dime-store pearls

[crankysoprano]

Wow. It's so nice to have internet again. :)

Here's something I read long ago. I really needed to hear it again... (Why IS it so hard to let go?)

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

Comments

[noneuklid]

Hey! Long time, no... speak! How goes the world?

I have a question about that story, but I can only think to phrase it as an observation: The father seems very much in need of affirmation from his daughter. That seems... unlike how I imagine you conceiving of God.

[crankysoprano]

Hmmm... I'm going to try to respond to this observation, but I'm not sure how exactly to explain. I don't think of Jenny's daddy NEEDING the affirmation for his own sake... I think the "Do you love me?" could just as well have been phrased "Do you TRUST me?" The request for her to give up her prized possession was not made lightly, nor would the pearls be relinquished without some wrenching heartache. He knew this, just as He knew that she loved him. His request was more an opportunity than an affirmation. He knew how much she loved her pearls, just as He knew how much better His gift would be. He was only waiting for her to be ready... to trust Him enough to know that He loved HER and would never do anything that wasn't in her best interest. Now, I'm not sure how much of this you can ascribe to the actions of a not-quite-five-year-old, but such is the nature of a parable.

That's not EXACTLY right, but it's a fair approximation of my thoughts. :) Did that help? Also, how are you doing??

[noneuklid]

I'm doing alright. I could be doing better, but I could also be doing worse.

Thanks for explaining! I'm still not sure I understand, but it's a step forward.