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, but 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, leaving the
Bible.
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 new
Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and
began to turn the pages. And as he did, 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.
