The Parable of the Ballerina Jewelry Box
Retold from a story told by Paul V. Johnson

The mother of two little girls purchased 2 beautiful large ballerina jewelry boxes for their Christmas gifts.  The box was pink.  A beautiful ballerina twirled when the lid was lifted to a lovely tune.  This was the perfect gift.  Just before leaving the store the mother remembered that she needed a birthday gift for a niece.  A smaller version of the jewelry box was chosen for her.

Later that day the mother told her daughters about the upcoming birthday party and showed them the gift they would take.  One little daughter burst into tears!  In between sobs she explained that this was the very gift she wanted.  She cried and cried.  Holding the little child lovingly in her arms the mother offered comfort and the possibility that such a gift might be hers at Christmas or for her birthday.  The little girl sobbed that this was the perfect jewelry box.  It was the one she wanted.  She cried for a half hour in the arms of her mother all the while the mother knowing that a better gift was coming soon.

While offering comfort the mother felt some amusement for she saw with eternal eyes. How many times had she cried that the ‘perfect’ gift was not hers?  Certainly Heavenly Father had offered her comfort all the while knowing that He had something better in store.
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Interestingly this story ( told at our satellite Stake Conference) compliments the focus of my scripture study of the last few days.  
Doctrine and Covenants 58:3-4
“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
“For after much tribulation come the blessings.  Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.”