Just A Story

Never had the little girl seen a place like this. It was a shop containing all that would make a heart happy.

Some would call it candy, and yet, as she stood there with eyes wide in wonder, she knew that there were no words yet created in the English language that described these treasures.

The smells were unearthly. Like all things loved, condensed in one place.

The colors made her heart ache with their beauty.

Shelves from floor to ceiling, lined with baskets. And each basket containing a better treasure than the one before.

At first, overwhelmed, all she could do was look. Then, she was compelled to feel. Her hands plunging into the nearest basket, bringing what it held to her face so that she could breath in the aroma.

Her smile lit up her entire face. She could feel the joy showing in her eyes. The excitement was too much to bear. She stretched out her arms, face to the ceiling and laughed!

And then, she saw it. On the top shelf. The most beautiful of all.

By this time, those who loved her best had heard her joy, and were coming to share in her wonder and help her with her choice.

Try this one.

That one is perfect!

Have you ever seen anything like this?

As she listened, her eyes kept going back to the treasure on the top shelf. It contained all that she was longing for. All that she thought would bring fulfillment.

But the price tag was standing in her way. It was asking for more than she was willing to give. This one thing that she longed for required a trade.

In order to have that treasure, she must give away her soul.

She didn't even realize that tears were running down her cheeks.

She smiled at the advice of the bystanders, and even willingly held and tasted what they suggested. But her eyes kept straying upwards... to the basket containing her heart's desire.

And then, the walls faded way. Her loved ones disappeared. And she was face to face with the Shopkeeper.

Her heart sang, as she realized, with the distractions gone, that He was the one she was longing for. Not the treasures that came wrapped in shiny paper, nor the smells that filled her with longing.

He held out his arms, and she was enveloped by a love that finally made her heart whole...