Remember the story of a somewhat rebellious teenage boy who was getting ready to graduate from high school? He didn’t care that his father had paid for his first year 
of college. All he dreamed of was owning a brand new car with mag wheels and a fully loaded dashboard sporting Blue Tooth and every electronic device for playing music known to mankind. He knew his father could well afford the car of his dreams and so, he told him that is what he wanted for graduation.
As graduation day approached, the boy looked eagerly for 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 how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
The boy opened the gift box ~
Skeptical, the boy opened the gift box and stared in disbelief at a black leather-bound Bible with his name embossed in gold. Angry, he glared
at his father who stood there with expectant eyes. “This shows how proud you are of me? How much you love me?” the boy snarled. He tossed the box containing the Bible on to his father’s desk and stormed out.
Many years had passed since that ugly scene in his father’s study. The young man had graduated from college and had become a successful businessman. He rarely thought about his father and when he did, the anger surged through his veins almost making his blood boil.
On day, he received a phone call from his uncle telling him that his father had passed away and “could you come home to settle the estate?” When he arrived at his father’s house, a strange sadness began to fill his heart, but he shrugged it off as some silly sentiment. As he began his search through his father’s important papers, he saw the unopened box holding the Bible – just as he left it years ago.
He angrily flipped through the Bible and as he did so, a car key fell to the floor. It had a tag, and on the tag was printed the name of the dealer, the make and model of the car of his dreams, the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL. It was signed, “Love Dad.”
How many times do we miss the blessings because they do not appear exactly as we would expect? How about God’s greatest gift to all mankind – a baby born in a manger? How about the gift of salvation – His Son who died on a cross? How about a mansion in heaven for all eternity – received by faith?
The young man flipped through the Bible and dropped to his knees with tears in his eyes when he read Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving kindness.”
If we look with our heart, we just might see the gift more wonderful than anything our wildest dreams could ever imagine! The Gift – priceless!