Another Christmas (short) story.. HOPE IT TOUCHES YOUR HEART!

THE GOLD WRAPPING PAPER - An Inspiring Christmas Story

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.

As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one box she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten the money to buy what was in the box.

Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!"

As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her. But when he opened the box, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young lady," he said harshly, "when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package!"

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: "Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full."

The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there. 


In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.  
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Now, I don't know if you had heard this story.. but seems that God also gives us empty boxes.. backed with HIS awesome and unchanging LOVE!!
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 Black and Gold Boxes

  by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown  

I have in my hands two boxes Which God gave me to hold He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black, And all your joys in the gold."   I heeded his words, and in the two boxes Both my joys and sorrows I store But though the gold became heavier each day The black was as light as before. With curiosity, I opened the black

I wanted to find out why
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile at me.
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,
"Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,

the black is for you to let go."                                                                                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Just like our Father, to give us such a gift! I have thought of this Sorrows and Joys boxes many times.. and Yes thankfully, my JOYS box continues to grow and get heaver by the day, sometimes by the moment.. And my SORROWS box, is only heavy for a short while.. With prayer and gratitude.. The sorrows are easier to bear.. and then just a memory.. And once again, I am thankful and reminded of all HIS Love, mercies, guidance, forgiveness and blessings! Thank You God!! 
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 Now I don't know about you.. but all of the prayers that we pray are as far as I am concerned head straight to Heaven... From our lips to God's ears and heart! ... And, we were taught in a Sunday meeting.. that God answers all prayers (in HIS time) And sometimes the answer is YES
sometimes the answer is NO.... sometimes it's  GO SLOW...  but..... Jeremiah 29:11-13King James Version (KJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
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Today and daily, I am praying for you and yours, that God will bless each of you spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, financially and His love, grace, guidance, forgiveness, and a special blessing for each that only HE knows you are needing. Praying too for those that are ill.. God bless and comfort each of them and their families please and thank You. Praying for our soldiers and service people from all walks of life.. for safety, happiness, and inner peace. Praying for those that are grieving.. God bless and comfort please and thank You. And giving daily thanks in all things to our Lord and Savior..with my love, sincere thanks, honor, praise and glory in Jesus Holy name, amen.