Dads Blessings

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. And as he did, 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 Spirit's blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

TODAY'S's affirmation: "Today I look beyond the obvious and allow miracles to be created in my life."

very touching.........
thanks for the reminder.

>> Date with a Woman…
>>
>>
>>
>> After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take
>> another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said I love you
>> but I know this other woman loves you and would love to
>> spend some time with you.
>>
>>
>>
>> The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my
>> MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands
>> of my work and my three children had made it possible to
>> visit her only occasionally.
>>
>>
>> That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and
>> a movie.
>> 'What's wrong, are you well,' she asked? My
>> mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night
>> call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
>>
>>
>> 'I thought that it would be pleasant to be with
>> you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.'
>>
>>
>>
>> She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I
>> would like that very much.'
>>
>> That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I
>> was a bit
>>
>> nervous..
>>
>>
>> When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too,
>> seemed to be
>> nervous about our date. She waited
>> in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and
>> was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her
>> last wedding anniversary.
>>
>>
>> She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an
>> angel's.
>>
>>
>> 'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my
>> son, and they were impressed, 'she said, as she got into
>> the car. 'They can't wait to hear about our
>> meeting'. We went to a restaurant that, although not
>> elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if
>> she were the First Lady.
>>
>>
>> After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Large print.
>> Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom
>> sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile
>> was on her
>> lips.
>>
>>
>> 'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you
>> were small,' she said.'Then it's time that you
>> relax and let me return the favor,' I
>> responded.
>>
>>
>> During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation -
>> nothing
>> extraordinary, but catching up on
>> recent events of each other's life. We talked so much
>> that we missed the movie.
>>
>>
>> As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll
>> go out with you again, but only if you let me invite
>> you.' I agreed.
>>
>>
>> 'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I
>> got home. 'Very nice.Much more so than I could have
>> imagined,' I answered.
>>
>>
>> A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack.
>> It happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to do
>> anything for her..
>>
>>
>> Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a
>> restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had
>> dined.
>> An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I
>> wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I
>> paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your
>> wife. You will never know what that night meant for me...
>>
>>
>>
>> I love you, son.'
>>
>>
>> At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in
>> time: 'I LOVE YOU!' and to give our loved ones the
>> time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important
>> than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve,
>> because these things cannot be put off till 'some other
>> time...'
>>
>>
>> Pass this along to everyone with an aging parent,
>> to a child, to an adult, to anyone with a parent, a
>> friend..
>>