Angeline’s Birthday Present: A Parable
Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow
There was once a king who lived
in a beautiful land with a magnificent castle. The king was celebrated by the
people, and he ruled them with wisdom and kindness. The king had a daughter
whom he loved dearly. The king decided that on his daughter’s fifth birthday he
would let her choose any birthday present she desired.
Thinking he knew his daughter’s
mind, the king ordered several things to be purchased in advance. His list
included a new pony, a beautiful new dress, and a grand doll house with all the
furnishings.
On the day of her birthday, the
king dressed in his finest robe of royalty and summoned his guards to bring his
daughter to him in his royal chamber. Upon entering the chamber the little girl
ran into the king’s outstretched arms and sat upon his lap.
After a big hug and a kiss, the
king said to his daughter, “Angeline, today is a very special day…it is your
fifth birthday! I love you very much, and I want to give you a special birthday
present. Today, I will give to you anything you ask of me. I want you to choose
something that you would like to have more than anything else in the whole
world.” Angeline’s eyes grew big as she listened.
To help point his daughter in
the right direction the king asked her the following questions: “Do you think
you would like to have a pony to ride? Or perhaps a beautiful new dress to
wear? Or a new doll house to play with?” The king saw a big smile come to
Angeline’s face as she thought about her birthday present.
After waiting a few more
moments, the king asked, “Well, my dear child, can you tell me what birthday
present you would like me to give you today?”
“Is it a pony?” asked the king?”
“No.” answered Angeline, “Not a pony.”
“Is it a dress?” asked the king.
“No.” answered Angeline, “Not a new dress.”
“Is it a doll house?” asked the king.
“No.” answered Angeline, “Not a doll house.”
The king’s curiosity began to grow. “Well then, can you tell me what it is?”
“Yes.” said Angeline. “The
birthday gift I would like to have more than anything else in the whole world
is to stay here on your lap, and not get up until I become tired and fall
asleep in your arms.”
The king was amazed at his daughter’s
request! As the king’s eyes began to fill with tears he asked, “Why would you
want to stay here with me when you could be outside with a pony, or playing
with a new doll house in your room?”
Before Angeline answered, she
snuggled close to the king, put her head upon his shoulder, and in her softest,
most loving voice she whispered, “Because, daddy, you are the best gift of
all!”
Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow
“Is it a pony?” asked the king?”
“No.” answered Angeline, “Not a pony.”
“Is it a dress?” asked the king.
“No.” answered Angeline, “Not a new dress.”
“Is it a doll house?” asked the king.
“No.” answered Angeline, “Not a doll house.”
The king’s curiosity began to grow. “Well then, can you tell me what it is?”
#bestgift #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow
©2024 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.
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