Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21, NKJV)
We are getting ready to show our home to prospective buyers this weekend, so Jeff suggested that it might be a good idea to clean out my closet, or at least straighten it up a bit, prior to the showing. Reluctantly, under the conviction of his gentle nudging, I began sorting through my shoes, organizing my jewelry and hanging up various scarves and handbags that had fallen from my shelves.
As I bent down to retrieve a couple of scarves, I found them covering a box I hadn’t seen in a very long time—it was a box that belonged to my Dad, the late Walter Medlock. I reached for it but when I did, I accidentally tipped it over, dumping out all its contents.
One by one, I picked up the various buttons, coins, cufflinks, keys and tie tacks. I felt such an overwhelming sense of gratitude as my eyes focused on a half a dozen keys, three little praying hands tie tacks, a little silver cross and Holy Spirit dove pin.
It was like God was giving me an object lesson right there in my closet.
Honestly, I have no idea what those keys unlock. Daddy never told me. For all I know, they could unlock a treasure chest full of gold coins or some safe-deposit box that holds precious stocks and bonds.
Guess I’ll never know, and I don’t really care because what my father gave me is worth more than all the gold in the world, and that’s what those three little praying hands, the silver cross and the Holy Spirit dove pin represent.
You see, Daddy taught me about Jesus when I was just a little girl. He told me that God sent His only Son to die on a cross for my sins so that I could spend eternity with Him. He also taught me the importance of starting each morning with prayer, and that I could talk to God throughout the day, no matter where I was or what I was doing. And, Daddy taught me about the Holy Spirit, that He would lead me and guide me in the way I should go.
Those life-changing truths are the real treasures my earthly father left me, and because he took the time to tell me about Jesus, I will get to spend eternity with my Heavenly Father.
As I placed those three little praying hands, the silver cross and the Holy Spirit dove pin back into Daddy’s special box, I thought…I am truly rich.
And, guess what?
So are you!
Pray this with me:
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to die on a cross for my sins. And, thank You, God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads me and guides me in the way I should go. I love You, Lord, and I am so thankful that I am Your child. I am truly rich. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
