Dear Friends,
I received this in an email from a friend and wanted to share it with you. I do not know who wrote it. It is a powerful reminder of what is really important, especially at this holiday season. Stop a moment and appreciate the beauty around you. That is God’s Best!
“Once upon a time there was a shepherd boy tending sheep on the side of a mountain.
One day he saw at his feet a beautiful flower – one that was more beautiful than any he had ever seen. He knelt down and scooped the flower in his hands and held it close to his eyes, drinking in its beauty. As he held the flower close to his face, suddenly he heard a noise and looked up before him.
There he saw a great mountain opening up before his eyes. Inside the mountain, he saw a sprinkling of beautiful gems and gold. With the flower in his hands, he walked inside. Laying the flower down, he began to gather gold and precious gems.
With all that his arms could carry, he turned and began to walk out of the cavern. Then a voice said to him, “Don’t forget the best.”
Thinking that perhaps he had overlooked some choice piece of treasure, he returned and picked up additional pieces of gold.
With his arms overflowing, he walked back outside. And the voice said, “You forgot the best, for the beautiful flower is the key to the vault.” All of a sudden, the gold and gems turned to dust. He looked around in time to see the mountain closing its doors. The boy forgot the best, and lost a treasure.
One day he saw at his feet a beautiful flower – one that was more beautiful than any he had ever seen. He knelt down and scooped the flower in his hands and held it close to his eyes, drinking in its beauty. As he held the flower close to his face, suddenly he heard a noise and looked up before him.
There he saw a great mountain opening up before his eyes. Inside the mountain, he saw a sprinkling of beautiful gems and gold. With the flower in his hands, he walked inside. Laying the flower down, he began to gather gold and precious gems.
With all that his arms could carry, he turned and began to walk out of the cavern. Then a voice said to him, “Don’t forget the best.”
Thinking that perhaps he had overlooked some choice piece of treasure, he returned and picked up additional pieces of gold.
With his arms overflowing, he walked back outside. And the voice said, “You forgot the best, for the beautiful flower is the key to the vault.” All of a sudden, the gold and gems turned to dust. He looked around in time to see the mountain closing its doors. The boy forgot the best, and lost a treasure.
All secular beauty was created by God to lead our affections to Him. The pleasures of earthly treasures and beauty fade away in time. God’s beauty is constant and everlasting.
Remember the Source of the beauty we enjoy in life. The gold and gems are but a reflection and expression of God Himself.
True happiness can only come to us from the Creator, not the creation.
Remember the Source of the beauty we enjoy in life. The gold and gems are but a reflection and expression of God Himself.
True happiness can only come to us from the Creator, not the creation.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
~Psalm 37:4
~Psalm 37:4
You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, 
and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You. ”
~ Saint Augustine
and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You. ”
~ Saint Augustine
Choosing Wisely,
Abigail