By S. Murray
Amanda was three years old when she first saw Maggie,
"The Angel Doll". Maggie was sitting under a Christmas tree in the
local store window that was near the old apartment building where the little
girl lived. Amanda just knew inside her heart that Maggie was the name of the
doll and she really wanted to hold here. She peered into the cold window,
cupping her tiny little hands around her face so that she could see the little
doll. Her mother pulled on her coat and told her to get moving so that they
could get home before dark because the neighborhood was less than desirable and
even worse after dark. Linda was young, about 20 and already looked worn from
life. Amanda's father was nowhere in sight; he had left as soon as he found out
she was on the way! Life was hard on the young mother and most nights she would
drink herself into a stupor after Amanda went to bed, at least that way she
could go to sleep without the worry of tomorrow running through her head.
The store, where the angel doll was displayed, sponsored a
Christmas party at a nearby Church and offered the children from the
neighborhood an opportunity to have a little fun and learn the true meaning of
Christmas. Each child that attended the party would be given a wrapped gift, snacks,
music and fun! Linda had heard about the party through the babysitter and
decided that she would ask Marie to take the little girl because it was the
only gift that Amanda would be receiving that year, there was no money for
anything else.
The day of the party arrived and Amanda was very excited.
Amanda asked Marie if she could dress up in her "bestest" dress, the
sitter agreed and helped her to put on the old lace dress she had in her
closet. The dress was about 2 sizes too big but that didn't bother Amanda, it
made her feel like a princess. The outfit was completed with the old blue
tennis shoes and her coat.
When they arrived at the church, there were about 100 kids
already there and all were looking excited. The church was decorated and a
sparkling tree sat in the center of the recreation room where the party was
held. Amanda like the shiny tree but was drawn to the alter in the sanctuary
where a manger held a tiny baby Jesus for the world to see. Her tiny hands
reached for the baby Jesus but stopped when one of the chaperones told her not
to touch it. Saddened, Amanda wandered back to the party and waited patiently
to be told what to do next.
All of the children heard the Christmas story of Jesus, were
given treats, played games, sang Christmas carols and finally received their
gifts. The paper and ribbon began to fly in every direction as the children
tore into the wrappings to see what gift they received. Amanda just held hers
tightly to her chest and told Marie that she was going to save it for Christmas
morning. The sitter was amazed at the will power of the little girl and gladly
agreed that it was a wonderful idea. Later that night at home, Amanda sat her
gift on the table and wished for a shiny tree to put the package under, but
Mommy said there was no money for a tree this year so she would just pretend!
The day had been a long one for Linda and she arrived home
to find Amanda asleep on the sofa. The gift sat wrapped and shiny on the table.
Linda reached out, touching the ribbons, making her heart hurt at the thought
that there was no tree for her child to put it under. She got out the bottle,
poured herself a drink and sat there. She began thinking that life was life and
she could not fix it, no matter how hard she tried. Linda began to cry. Inside
that box on the table, the little doll Maggie listened to the cries of the
young mother and she knew that her father, Jesus, had heard the cries too! You
see, the little doll Maggie was not a doll at all but an angel sent by the Lord
to watch over Amanda. She was an answer to the little girl's prayers for
something to hold and love. The father always hears our prayers and sends to us
what he knows we need at that time in our lives. The little girl needed a
companion and although Jesus was always with her, she could understand the idea
of an "angel" doll much easier than something that was
"there" but she could not see all the time. Jesus could use the angel
doll to teach the little girl that he was with her always and forever.
Christmas came and Amanda opened her gift. Oh, the light
that shone from her beautiful eyes as they lit up at the sight of the dolly
from the "window". "Thank you Jesus," she said,
"’cause you was born! "They told me at church that you loved me and
now I know that you can hear me, too!" She hugged the angel doll close to
her heart and the little doll Maggie wept with joy at the thought of being able
to love this little girl! She could now fulfill her duties of loving the girl
just as the Lord desired.
Amanda grew up and through the years of joy, suffering and
life's many changes, the little doll was always close by her side. Amanda knew
she always had someone to talk to because she would pray to Jesus, talk to
Maggie and suddenly whatever the situation was, it seemed to get a little
better.
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