"Gold Wrapping Paper"

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year olddaughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money wastight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper todecorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the nextmorning and then said, "This is for you, Momma."The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her angerflared 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'ssupposed to be something inside the package?"She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blewkisses into it until it was full."The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around herlittle 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 istold 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 aGolden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.