“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 3 NIV)

Once upon a time, there was a little girl. She loved to dress up. Hats, shoes, scarves, and lipstick. She had a favorite necklace of little plastic pearls and she wore it everywhere. One night, Daddy came to tuck her in bed. He asked his little girl to give him the precious necklace.

“No, Daddy. It’s mine. It’s my favorite,” she said.

“Ok. You keep it.” He kissed her goodnight and she went to sleep. Night after night, he asked her for the necklace. Night after night, she refused. One night, tears streaming down her cheeks, she handed him the little plastic pearls.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Daddy said. “I’m been waiting to give you these.” He took out a strand of real pearls and placed them around her neck.

Keep this story in mind as we take a look at the verse above from Matthew.

Poor.

Empty-handed.

Not positives where we live. We like full things. Full bellies. Full gas tanks. Closets, houses, hands—full. But look. To the poor is given the kingdom, the real pearls.

God can’t fill hands or hearts that are already full. What’s filling your hands, your heart, your schedule? Is it plastic or genuine? Temporal or eternal? Yes, work, school, those things are musts, but what about the rest? What’s eating the rest of your time? TV, electronics, endless activities?

As the schedule takes shape for this school year, clear some space for God:

• Keep a Bible at the table and read as you munch your Cheerios in the morning
• Tape a memory verse to the bathroom mirror
• Play praise music and pray in the car

Let go of the plastic. Turn to the One whose gifts will leave you speechless.

Questions:

Look at your week’s schedule. ID the plastic. (Not the have to’s, rather the good that pushes out the best.) ID the genuine.

What can you let go to make room for the real stuff?

Start small. To what one thing will you commit to turn your attention to God?

Get ready for distractions. What is most likely to throw you off your commitment this week? How will you fight it?