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Our Precious Gift

One day Maria ran to her mother and said,
“Mom! Xavier stole my favourite pen!”

Xavier quickly replied, “No Mom, I didn’t steal it. I just took it from her table. I love that pen so much.”

Maria crossed her arms. “Yes you did! You never asked me, and you didn’t even tell me until I found out myself.”


Xavier’s eyes filled with tears. “Mom, it’s unfair to call me a thief. I only kept it because she doesn’t use it often!”


Mother knelt down and gently said, “Xavier, my dear, it is not right to take something that isn’t yours without asking. That’s the same as stealing. Jesus does not like it when we hurt others. Every wrong thing we do hurts His heart and adds to His suffering on the Cross.” Xavier frowned and asked softly,
“But Mom, if Jesus is God, why did He have to suffer? Couldn’t He just forgive us without suffering?”

Mother smiled kindly. “That is a very good question, Xavier. Let me tell you a story.”


The Story of Prince Felix and David

Once, long ago, there was a great king. He was fair, kind, and just. He had a son named Prince Felix. Like his father, Felix was gentle and loving. He treated all his friends equally, whether they were rich or poor. Among his closest friends was David, the son of a simple farmer.

One day David saw a merchant with a beautiful horse. Its coat shone like gold in the sun. David wanted it very badly.
“How much is the horse?” he asked.
“Five hundred gold coins,” said the merchant.



David’s heart sank. He didn’t have so much money. As he walked home, he saw an old farmer carrying a pouch of gold coins. A terrible idea came into his mind: “What if I take the coins now, buy the horse, and secretly return them later?”


Without thinking of the consequences, David covered his face, snatched the pouch, and ran to buy the horse. That evening, tragedy struck. The old farmer had sold his only land to pay for his daughter’s wedding. When he lost the money, he was heartbroken and ended his life.


The king was furious when he heard this. “Whoever did this crime,” he declared, “will be thrown into the lions’ den.” The soldiers soon found out David had bought the horse that very day. When questioned, David couldn’t explain how he had the money. At last he confessed. “I only wanted the horse,” he wept. “I planned to return the coins. I never wanted the man to die!” But it was too late. The law had to be followed. David was taken to the lions’ den. Hungry lions roared inside. Just as the soldiers were about to push him in, someone rushed forward—Prince Felix!

The prince pushed David aside and jumped into the den himself.
“Father!” Felix cried out as the lions circled him. “Let my friend live. I give my life for him so he can have a second chance!”

David watched in horror. The lions attacked the prince. Tears filled his eyes as he cried, “I don’t deserve this love!”


The king, with tears streaming down his face, came to David and said, “My son gave his life for you. No one can punish you now because he paid the price with his innocent blood. If only you had asked, he would have given you what you needed. Go now and live a new life.” 


From that day, David changed. He lived a good and honest life, always remembering the prince who saved him.


Mother looked at Xavier. “My dear, God the Father is like the King. We are like David. Because He is just, sin must be punished. But because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus, like Prince Felix, to take our punishment so we can be forgiven and live a new life. Your father and I never deny you what you truly need. There was no need to take Maria’s pen. If you had asked, we would have given you one.”



Xavier’s eyes filled with tears. “I understand now, Mom. I don’t want to hurt Jesus, even in small things. He is my most precious gift. Maria, here’s your pen. I won’t do this again.”


Maria hugged her brother. “You’re more important to me than this pen,” she said with a smile. “Now I gift it to you!”


The two children hugged as Jesus too embraced them from with joy.


Moral of the Story

Jesus, the Prince of Heaven, took our place so that we could have a new life. Let’s love Him back by doing what is right, even in small things, and by trusting God to give us what we need.