Respirit--inspiration to refresh your spirit and give you courage

Missed Blessings

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many
months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom,
and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all
he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs
that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his
graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father
told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how
much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and
found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name
embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said
"with all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the
house. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in
business.  He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized
his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He
had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed
away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come
home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his
father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began
to search through his father's important papers and saw the still
gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago.  With tears, he
opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.  His father had
carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, "And if ye, being evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your
Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he
read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.  It
had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports
car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the
words PAID IN FULL. How many times do we miss God's blessings because
we can't see past our own desires?????? (Author Unknown)