A Rag Doll's Story

One day a family was traveling down a country road and, as is the case with most families, the siblings were bickering among themselves in the back seat. Just to be mean, the older brother tossed his little sister's rag doll out the window and smugly turned, stuck out his tongue, and folded his arms victoriously across his chest...and the back seat became deathly quiet.  His little sister stared in shock. How could he do that to her? She loved her doll. He glared at her daring her to say anything to their parents because if she did, he would take something else that she loved. 

She sat with tears running down her cheeks silently mourning the loss of something very special to her...and her parents were unaware of the loss that she suffered that day. 

In the meantime, the rag doll landed on the berm feeling hopeless and alone. She was someone who was once loved dearly by a little girl, now she was tossed away by her mean older brother. The rag doll lay there hoping that the family would come back to rescue her, but they didn't. She really was all alone!

Before long, a gentle rain began to fall and she was getting wet and dirty. A  big truck went by splattering her with mud. Now, she was wet and muddy! How bad would it get before she was rescued?  For days she laid there losing hope of ever getting rescued. Her dress was now in shambles; her stitching was beginning to rot; and her stuffing was sticking out in places. She was feeling so horrible, but could do nothing on her own. 

In the meantime, the little girl cried almost continuously for her doll, but she would not say anything to anyone about why she was crying. She refused to eat and became sick. Finally, one day she told her mother what happened. She hugged her little girl tightly and comforted her. 

When her Daddy got home, they all piled in the car and Daddy began searching with spotlights for the lost rag doll. Finally, they found her alongside of the roadway, muddy and ragged. That did not matter to the little girl. When her Daddy brought the rag doll to the car, the little girl opened her arms, wrapped the little doll in a nice warm towel and hugged her tightly to herself. The little rag doll felt the love that poured forth from the little girl. She knew that she had been loved all along. She should never have doubted the love of her friend or her Daddy.

As for the mean older brother, he got his punishment for what he had done...dishwasher duty for an entire week!

Some of us may feel like that rag doll, hopeless and alone alongside of the roadside, but unlike the little doll, we are never alone. Jesus is always with us. He knows exactly what brought us to the side of the road. He understands everything that we have been through and never has stopped loving us. He is searching for us wherever we may be. We are loved no matter what. It doesn't matter if we have mud splattered on us. He is waiting with open arms just like the little girl. Allow Him to pick you up and hold you close in His Everlasting arms.

Thanks for reading.
Donna