The world loves to whisper lies about us, in an attempt to push us over to the sidelines. God says we are precious, the center of His attention.
Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? As a little girl, watching Goonies, I would’ve died to get my hands on a treasure map. I never did understand why all, but one of the Goonies were boys.
I can’t recollect ever having lived out my childhood pirate dreams. So, when the time came to plant a treasure map with an “X” to mark the spot, I was bursting with excitement for TJ’s first hunt. Our three year old swashbuckler thought we were out for a routine weekend walk to the neighborhood park.
Little did he know, Hubby had gone out earlier for a reconnaissance and buried a treasure map. Little did we know, however, we were equally in the dark over how our fortune hunting tale would end.
As we turned the street corner, Shiver, Me Timbers, TJ! What’s this covered in the dirt?!
TJ’s eyes grew big with a mix of disbelief and excitement, as he quickly unrolled a map torn out of a Safeway grocery bag, aged with burned edges, with hand-drawn trees and dashes drawn next to a big number “10”, the requisite pace count.
After whispering quickly over the dangers of taking a pirate’s treasure, TJ shot off like a cheetah out for a kill. As he ran off in the direction of the trees down aways, screaming, “Treasure! Treasure!”, Hubby and I took off after him, passing each other secret smiles and flashing mico-second thumbs-up.
The actual digging of the treasure chest ended up taking much longer than we anticipated, thanks to one small detail Hubby forgot: a marker to indicate where it was buried.
After digging up gravel, litter and some dog poop, TJ hits pay dirt.
His treasure trove of marbles, cheap plastic beads, fake gold coins, and dollar tin bracelets shined and glittered in the hot summer sun.
TJ’s amazement of oohs and aahs, suddenly short circuited into a mad, hurried desperation.
“QUICK, EVERYONE! Back to the house! We can’t let anyone get to this treasure!”
“Hey, TJ,” we said, panting after a sprint back home. “No worries, buddy. There’s no one here to take your treasure.”
“No! We have to hide it or someone will steal my treasure,” TJ insisted.
We try to convince him our house is safe. We ask him to share the booty, ‘cuz didn’t we all find it together, after all?
Hubby and I dispersed into a huddle over in the corner, to decide whether to use this incident as an object lesson to honor team effort and share. Or should we give him a “pass” on this one? ‘Seemed kinda harsh to have the poor little fella to part with his find.
Before reaching a final decision, I noticed TJ had already split with the loot.
Next day, as I gave him his good morning hug, with sleep still in his eyes, my son tells me groggily, “Mommy, I want to give you something.”
He leads me to his beloved treasure chest, opens the lock and proceeds to lay out some of his good fortune.
“Here, Mommy. I want you to have these,” pointing to the bangles. “Those (marbles) are for Daddy and these (coins) are for CJ.”
“Really? Are you sure?” I asked cautiously.
“Yes, Mommy. I want you to have them. They’ll look pretty on you.”
Overwhelmed by the moment, my eyes tear up. “TJ, sweetie, I’m so happy. Thank you.”
With a Transformer PJ’d boy in my arms and sunlight still peeking through the blinds, I squeeze my piece of heaven.
Heaven is finding treasure in people rather than the things we own.
Heaven is God calling us His treasures and laying it down to call us his own.
Remember this, as the world begs to differ. She’ll whisper lies in an attempt to define you, like insignificant, commonplace. Your circumstance might persuade you to think you are overlooked or on God’s sidelines.
Just listen to our Lord Jesus. Treasure. You are My Treasure.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44
“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
7 Comments
This was SO GOOD, Bonnie! Congrats to you and your husband for giving TJ such an awesome experience. I’m gonna have to do this…
Thanks, Billy! Yeah, TJ was in seventh heaven. We still haven’t spilled the beans on this one yet. And don’t plan to. 😉
Great post, Bonnie!
I might have to do this for my wife for our wedding anniversary, btw!
Mums the word, Peter! Ooh, she’s surely a blessed sister. You’ll strike gold in her heart, fer sure.
I did the treasure hunt for my wife. I figured one of the best presents I could give her was seeing her kids having tons of fun.
She loved it (and the money that was in a special treasure chest for her) and the kids were just SO excited!
I aged some paper by soaking it in coffee and putting it in the oven.
Then wrote clues on the ‘aged’ paper using a caligraphy pen.
I buried a couple of little treasure chests with the clues in them and they finally led to a bigger chest with the money.
I even went to the bank and got a pile of silver dollars to use as ‘bullion’.
Now the question is… do I tell them it was me, or leave them believing a lie?
@Peter: Wow! You really did up the treasure hunt in spades! YEAH!! So special! And happy it went off without a glitch. I love the coffee aging idea and the calligraphy pen touch. A-w-e-s-o-m-e, dude!
As for telling them or going quiet. Well, do right by your own conscience, first and foremost.
For me, it’s like the Santa Claus thing. Harmless. You know the way I look at it, it’s like telling a bedtime story. You know, fiction and imaginary. But, kids gobble that stuff up. So, that’s my take on it. Later, I think TJ will look back and tell his friends he probably suspected good ol’ Dad planted it (a sentimental inside joke). And do the same for his kids 😉