Most-Loved Doll

Naomi studied her doll collection. She thought all her dolls were beautiful, and she couldn't decide which one she should enter in the "Best Doll" contest at the local library. Finally, she closed her eyes, spun around a couple of times, and reached out. Her fingers closed around black-haired Hiyoko. "This will be the one," she said. The library was crowded when Naomi and her mother arrived for the contest. Naomi saw other girls clutching all sorts of dolls--from cute little baby dolls to glamorous dolls in beautiful dresses. Naomi had never seen so many dolls in her entire life.A little girl standing in the registration line caught Naomi's attention. In her arms, the girl carried a straggly haired doll whose face was chipped and faded from the hugs and kisses of many years. The doll's red dress was wrinkled and stained, perhaps a result of clumsy tea parties. The little girl gently smoothed it while she waited for her turn to register.Naomi nudged her mother. "Mom, look! Why would that girl over there enter such an ugly old doll?" she whispered.Mom glanced toward the child, who was now speaking shyly to a woman at the registration desk. "Her doll may not be beautiful, but it certainly is loved," she said. After a moment she added, "I think the way that doll looks to us is similar to how we appear to God. We come to Him covered in scars from the wear and tear of sin and suffering, and like that little girl, He loves and accepts us just as we are. He loves us so much that He sent His own Son to die to save us from sin so we could belong to Him." She looked at Naomi. "I'm so thankful He loved me enough to do that. He loves me--and you--like that girl loves that doll."They watched as the woman at the desk pinned the number forty-seven on the doll's worn dress. "I really hope number forty-seven wins a prize, don't you?" murmured Naomi.Mom nodded. "If there's a prize for the most-loved doll, she's sure to get it." –Phyllis I. Klomparens