My story the one i'm working on getting published.

The Gift by Synthea Paarup

There once were four children. They had only a mother to care for them. The children loved their mother dearly, but she was often sad.

The children tried to make her happy and the mother would be happy. For a while…

Soon the happiness would fade. The children would worry. The mother would get sad. And the children would only worry more.

The children wanted to make her truly happy.
So they talked among themselves while they worked and played.

And finally it came! Something that their mother loved. They would ask God for the gift of song. To sing to their mother of the joy they wished she would feel.

The children prayed, and asked God for the gift. God granted the gift. The children went to bed. In the morning they presented their gift.

The first child sang. The mother laughed. She told the children she loved them and the gift of their song. But the children knew a song was not what she needed.

They pondered. They thought. Then, they knew a gift that would please her. Surely it would make her happy forever!

The children prayed, and asked God for the gift. God granted the gift. The children went to bed. In the morning they presented their gift.

The second child painted a beautiful picture. Their mother cooed and said she loved them and the picture. But the children thought, “This can’t be it!”

They thought some more and this time they thought hard, for surely they could get it right. When the idea came, they were sure it was good.

The children prayed, and asked God for the gift. God granted the gift. The children went to bed. In the morning they presented their gift.

The third child danced to the music of her sister’s voice on the backdrop of her brother’s picture while the littlest sat with his mother. The mother was happy for days and days.

Not a day would pass without the music of the first child’s voice, the beauty of the second child’s paintings, or the rhythm of the third child’s feet, but as all things mortal, her happiness faded.

The children worried again. The mother tried not to show her sadness, but her children knew her well.

The youngest thought, “It is my turn for a gift. What can I give her?” The youngest prayed. But to his inquiry it seemed no answer came.

The other children were discussing the gift they would give their mother. The first child spoke, “The youngest has not yet given his gift. Perhaps the gift of music would make her heart sing forever? Surely that would make her happy!”

So the children prayed once again and asked God for the gift. God granted the gift. The children went to bed. In the morning they presented their gift.

The youngest played a happy melody on a harp. It blended in harmony with the first child’s song, in tempo with the second child’s paint and brush, and in Rhythm with the third child’s steps.

The mother was happy, for the gifts her children had given her were surely good. What the mother did not know was, God had something bigger planned.

The children thought for sure she was happy, and she was, but not for long. Now don’t you dare think this mother was unthankful. She was very thankful. Her children had tried their humanly best to make her feel happy and ultimately blessed. However no matter what happened she always lacked true joy.

Then along came a blessing and a chance to make their mother happy. A gift she would love. A gift that would make her heart soar! A gift so great, only God could give it.

That day the children went to God in prayer, they offered their gifts in return for their mother’s happiness.

God smiled as he handed the gifts back, “You keep the gifts I have given you. To see you use them to make your mother happy has given me delight. You have glorified my name. For, as you have seen, the gift your mother has need of, only I can give it. Your love for your mother has proven to me that you would do anything to make her happy. I will grant this gift.”

“Your selfless hearts have moved me. I will bless you further; you and your children shall have the gift of great love and faith to bless those around you, and yours. Your hearts will be filled with riches this world cannot take away.”

“Your mother’s days will be filled with peace and joy. Now go; obey your mother the rest of your lives. Give her grandchildren and I will fill her cup.”

The children smiled as they felt the love of God smiling upon them. They thanked God. The children went to bed. In the morning they found their gift.


Their mother was singing, their mother was dancing, she would play the harp, and she would paint a scene. She called to her children and with joy in her heart she blessed them all freely.

She had found a new start, the love from her King, the love from her God, and the love from her children, had filled her cup, past overflowing!

They lived their days to the fullness of God’s plan. Their hearts communed with God in their joy. And when their mother’s time had ended, she was welcomed to the place she had been searching for all those years ago. She found her eternity with God. When her children joined her, her happiness could not be measured, even in heaven. They were together in the only place where joy is forever…

They lived happily ever after, throughout eternity!
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Note from mom.

There are many things in this world that are very beautiful and worthy of praise. There are many gifts that are good to have and use to bring others joy and happiness. However true joy can only come from The Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This story is a reminder of where true long lasting happiness is from.


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Four children try to give their widowed mother happiness, as they struggle to give her gifts on earth, as God reveals his plan.


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Four children struggle to give their mother a gift that will fill her days with Joy and peace, God plans an eternity.