~ THE BOX ~

The Box

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her 5 year old daughter for
wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became
even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put
under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next
morning and said, "This is for you, Momm a."

The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared
again when she opened the box and found it was empty.

She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner. "Don't you know, young lady, when
you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"

She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses
into it until it was full."

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little
girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.

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

In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box
filled with unconditional love and kisses from our family, friends and
God.

There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.