Hidden (in heaven) Treasure

Today was our annual church picnic & baptism at a nearby lake. Out of all the "special" things our church typically does, this one is extra special. So much of what we do is done indoors & just the fact that this time of fellowship & fun is spent outdoors in a beautiful corner of creation makes it extra special - & I love that adults & kids PLAY TOGETHER :) Love it! But - this church picnic was extra-special for us bc one of the girls (I'll call her "Happy") getting baptized asked our youngest daughter to be her prayer partner. It meant praying "publicly" during the service for her (which takes a lot of courage!) & it's a commitment to pray for that person for the rest of their life - ie... it's a BIG commitment for anyone - but esp. for a 12 yr old. I was touched that Happy saw something in Strike that caused her to choose her ... I'm not sure what that was - but inherent in the request was a sense of trust & confidence that turned the simple request into an honor to be asked! :)

Since Strike agreed, I tho't it would be nice to get a special gift for Happy to commemorate such a special occasion. Together we picked out a butterfly necklace & discussed a Bible verse to share along w/ the gift. Strike sweetly wrapped it up & wrote this note to go with it.

Shhh... listen to her heart...

Dear ______,

Thank you for picking me to pray for you at the baptism service. It meant a lot to me. I’m so glad that we are friends. Were both a lot alike. We both like having a good time and we both are pretty goofy but that’s just who we are :), but the most thing that we have in common is that we both LOVE the Lord. And that’s pretty special. :)
I’m glad God made us friends.

This verse below represents the little gift that I have given you.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:15

Love Your BFF,

__________:)

Tucked somewhere deep inside all of that - the request, the gift & the note - my husband & I found another one of those rare & precious jewels we find once in a while but often when we least expect to ..the kind I've mentioned before that shine so bright (seen in the smiles they create), & sparkle (in the eyes of the beholder), & are SO clear (in the understanding they convey) .. and they look like --- well - like ... perhaps we're doing somethin' right :) ... priceless.

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But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20