| The Gold Locket By Robert Wolgemuth |
| Three dates, a string of hurried cafteria lunches together, in the halls countless rushed snatches of conversation between classes, and Matt knew he was in love. That's why he was wandering around downtown for three hours the Saturday before Christmas. He had searched everywhere for the perfect gift, but nothing seemed quite right for Carrie. He finally sauntered into a jewelry store. After a few awkward minutes of looking, he explained to the clerk he wanted a really nice present for his girlfriend. She told him she thought she ahd just the thing and let Matt to a nearby disply case. She pulled out a brown, velvet box, set it in front of Matt, and waited for his reaction. The moment he opened the box and saw that gold locket, Matt knew it was perfect. The gold glistened in the light- just like Carrie's eyes. The quality of the locket was obvious, even without the 24K tag. The 14-karat gold chain added a touch of elegance. It was expensive, but Matt knew it was well worth the money. And he knew Carrie would love it. So he paid for it, took it home, and carefully wrapped it himself. That locket did make the perfect gift. Carrie thought so too. And Matt knew that as long as he lived, he'd never forget the night he gave Carrie that gold locket. Winter hadn't reached February before something happened to Matt's love. The warmth seemed to fade. Matt knew Carrie sensed it; he could see the question in her eyes. Breaking up brought the greatest sense of sadness and loss Matt had ever known. A few months later, Matt met Amanda. She was just the opposite of Carrie, with dark, flashing eyes and a fiery personality. Love struck again. And Matt decided he wanted to show his love for Amanda with a special gift. He searched the stores, trying to decide what to buy. But he found himself back in the jewelry store looking at the gold lockets. He racked his brain for other ideas, but no other gift seemed so perfect. He ended up giving Amanda a gold locket. She thought it was beautiful and Matt was pleased with his selection. Matt and Amanda broke up a few months later. After Amanda, he dated Bethany, and after Bethany came Cindy and Lauren and then Nicole. There was nothing strange about the fact that Matt went through a string of girlfriends. He really cared about each one. But it did seem odd, even to Matt, that whenever a birthday or some other occasion called for a special gift, he would return to the familiar jewelry store to buy another gold locket. A couple of times he felt guilty about not putting more thought or effort into choosing a gift. But even when he tried, he couldn't think of a nicer present than that locket. Finally Matt met Stephanie. Right away he felt different when he was with her; he acted calmer, more sure of himself. He knew no one had ever understood him or loved him the way she did. All his previous relationships paled in the light of his love for Stephanie. No one was surprised when Matt asked her to marry him. A few weeks before the wedding, Stephanie suggested they exchange wedding gifts. Matt thought that was a great idea. He wanted this ring to be just as special as the wedding rings they'd picked out together- and just as symbolic of his love. He tried to think of something else, but he finally settled on that beautiful gold locket. He went to pick it up at the same jewelry store, and the moment he saw it, he remembered just what a perfect gift it was. Nothing else seemed to express his love quite the way the locket did. Their wedding was as exciting an d beautiful as both Matt and Stephanie had dreamed. And when the exhausting day of ceremony and festivity came to a close, and the two of them were finally alone, Matt presented his gift to Stephanie. She told him the locket was beautiful. She also said she loved him and that he'd given her the happiest day and most wonderful gift she'd ever had. But when Stephanie put on the locket, Matt couldn't help remembering all the other gold lockets he had given. He wondered if Stephanie knew. He wished he could have given her something truly unique, something he'd never given anyone else. Always before, that 24 karat gold locket had seemed such a perfect gift. But now, on the happiest day of his life, the locket didn't seem special or beautiful anymore. It didn't even look as bright and shiny as Matt remembered. He loved Stephanie so very much, and he believed his love for her would last. But he wished he'd saved that special gift for her, and for her alone. ~~~~~~~ Note from me: Obviously, the locket in this parable is your viriginity. No matter what you do (TV, peer pressure, music, etc.) this world encourages you to have sex before marriage. "One time won't mess it up." "Only losers wait for marriage." "But it's so good." These messages mess up God's plan for us. God isn't someone who sets out a bunch of rules to make our lives miserable. In fact, if we follow these rules, our life will be much better than we could ever dream. Sure, we may get teased or laughed at, but so did Jesus. And it'll all be worth it in the end. I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for marriage. :) ~*~When it gets a little hard to care, just think about Him hanging there~*~ |
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