A young man was getting ready to graduate 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 beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but
somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a
lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father
and said, "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book. He never contacted his father again for a long,
long time. 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
things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret
filled his heart. He began to search 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.
As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind
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?