Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Missionary (10/19/06)
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TITLE: The Doll | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pamela Kliewer
10/24/06 -
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Her heart leapt within her as her memory took her back, back to a time when she didn’t know Jesus and of His great love for her. To the day the missionary barrel came to the church.
Growing up in a poverty stricken area, there were many things Angela longed for. Her heart especially yearned, when she went to school and would see girls from the better part of town, playing with their dolls during recess. Such beautiful dolls they were, too! Every day she stood off to the side and just watched, wishing she could just hold the doll for a minute. She would take such good care not to drop it or get it dirty. The only way she ever able to hold the dolls though was with her eyes. The other little girls treated her like she was something the cat dragged in, even though she was always clean and had her hair neatly combed and her face and hands washed. Her clothes were tattered, or two sizes too big, because of coming from the missionary barrel. Her family always went to the church on Thursday. That’s when the barrels came in and they could take whatever they needed.
In order to be able to take anything from the barrels, they had to sit and listen to someone tell them a Bible story first. Angela had a hard time understanding everything the women said to them. The words in the Bible were so strange sounding too. She would get tripped up in her mind, trying to figure out what they meant and then would miss the important truths being shared.
One day on the top of one of the missionary barrels was the most beautiful doll Angela had ever seen. She was dressed in a gown of ice green satin, the collar and sleeves edged with lace so fine. Her face was serene and it looked like the eyes were looking right at Angela with compassion. Black curls peeked out from a gorgeous emerald green bonnet. She carefully picked the doll up, cradling it lovingly in her arms, her finger reaching out to caress the face gently. Could she really have this doll for her very own? Her eyes were alight with the joy of the possibility. Holding it carefully, but tightly, she ran to one of the women whom had shown her much love and attention, treating her no different from anyone else, but like she was somebody! “Mrs. Grace, oh Mrs. Grace, can this doll be mine? Can I keep this doll for always and always? Please Mrs. Grace?”
“Angela! What a beautiful doll! Yes, you may keep her for always and always. You know that whoever sees something first here gets to keep it, that’s the rule.” Mrs. Grace said, a smile upon her face.
“Oh! Thank you! Thank you!”
Angela pulled herself out of her reverie, remembering that while that doll was special, the greatest gift she received was the gift of salvation. She had finally understood what the women talked about time after time and one day she opened her heart to Jesus Christ and from that moment on committed her life to serving Him.
She now shared of faith in Christ with the children of Africa. Her heart reached out to them with the same love she had received from Mrs. Grace, who cared so much for her when she was a little girl of nine. Mrs. Grace had shown the love of God to a hurting child and Angela in turn was a missionary in the desert of Africa. She daily shared His love to these often hurting children, pouring out her life in service to Her King, who had given her a gift far beyond anything she could have ever pulled out of the missionary barrels.
Angela smiled warmly at a young girl who had just come up to her. Her caring heart reflected in her eyes and smile as she reached out to caress the cheek of this darling little girl, just as she has that doll all those many years ago. This little girl, was much more precious and of infinite value than that doll had ever been.
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What I might change- you probably already caught them but there were a couple of typos... and there was one line that maybe could be broken into two - 'She daily shared His love...'
Thanks for writing this~:)