A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer`s showroom. Knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that`s what he wanted. As graduation day approached the young man looked for signs that his father had purchased the car.

           Finally, on the morning of his graduation, the father called the young man into his 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 on the front cover.

           Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" The young man 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 ought to 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. All of his father`s Possessions had been willed to his son. He needed to leave 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 papers and found the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse,

As he read these words 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. How many times do we miss blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?