Cyber-Pirates and Pearls!

“Surrender!” I heard Captain Duck say as his heavy blade came down hard on his opponent’s.
“Never!” cried General Fluffy-Puppy. “I’ll have no fat milking cow sailing MY ship!”
((“Avast! I command you!” (this is me saying it).))
“Who said that?” asks Captain Duck.
“You’re such a nincompoop, I told you this place was haunted.” General Fluffy-Puppy says matter-of-factly. “That is the voice of SPAM, the destroyer of cyber-space.”
“Come out. Fight me like a man!” Captain Duck said waving his sword hysterically through the air.
“Shh. SPAM is easily angered…we should run before he wipes us out.” Whispered General Fluffy-Puppy.
“Nevermore! I shall not leave without my victory, I stand as an iron horse, undeterred-”
((Cyber-space pirates are so annoying. I rolled my eyes and let Captain Duck continue with his jibber-jabbing. Well, obviously someone doesn’t give up too easily, I thought. What a shame. I put my index finger on the delete button of my keyboard and ‘zip’; they were gone.))
Finally, I can proceed with my post.
“Never give up!”
“You can do it!”
“Believe in yourself!”
That’s all we ever hear these days. On the one hand it’s good. We should have the confidence and perseverance necessary to fulfill everyday tasks and challenges. Perseverance is a vital ingredient to the Christian, but then, so is surrender. What? How can that be?
Well, my pastor once told a story that I think explains the concept very well.
Jenny bought a plastic pearl necklace for $2 worth of her hard earned money. She loved it so much that she even slept with it. Every night, when her father went into her room to tuck her into bed, he would say, “Do you love me?” and always she’d answer, “Daddy, you know I do.” Then he would say, “Give me your necklace?”
“Oh daddy,” she cried, “Not my necklace…you can have my doll, my watch, and even my favorite white horse with the pink tail.”
“It’s okay sweetheart. I love you, good-night.”
This conversation was repeated for several nights in a row. When finally her father walked upstairs to her room. Jenny was sitting on her bed with tears in her eyes. She looked up at her father and stretched out her hand, “Take it daddy, it’s for you.” The father took the necklace into his hand then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out another necklace…with real pearls. He gave them to Jenny. He had had them the whole time; he was just waiting for Jenny to give up what she had so he could give her something better.
Our Heavenly Father has something wonderful for each of us. What are you unwilling to give up? Jesus gave up everything for you, are you willing to give up bad friends, rock music, and ungodly clothes for Him? Whatever you decide, remember Matthew 10:38: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

(And P.S. Watch out for those cyber-pirates!)