The Greatest Gift of All

Our story today features a teenage girl, dressed in a coat much too big for her, shoes unsuitable for the winter weather, and a heavy weight on her shoulders.

This girl trudges through the snow along a sidewalk. A single question on her mind. Why did she have to get sick? Just three weeks ago she had been healthy as we walked this very same path.

Things had been better for them then. They were still poor and homeless, but at least they were happy. Her sister, Abbie, had stood looking into the window of the store. It was filled with bright lights and music with toys dancing and beckoning to the young girls.

“I like that one,” Abbie had said, as she pointed into the window. Her sister glanced over her shoulder to see the simplest and most beautiful doll she had ever seen. Yes, it was very fitting for Abbie who was young and beautiful with her dark brown hair flowing down her back, bright green eyes that danced as she stared at the doll, and a smile that didn’t suggest any of the hardships this nine-year-old had faced. Abbie was her mother and sister’s pride and joy. Without her, the two believed they would allow themselves to starve to death. And it seemed that day was looming closer and closer…

The girl shook her head to rid herself of the thought. She prayed desperately she would get better. No, she had to get better. If such an innocent, young girl died… no. God wouldn’t be cruel enough to take away their reason for living. Each day Abbie got sicker and sicker, and with no money to take her to a doctor, time would shortly claim her. If God was to take her away, maybe he wouldn’t leave them completely alone. Or take them with her.

The girl realized she had been staring at the doll a little too long. She turned to leave when she spotted a woman leaving the store with her five-year-old daughter. It was Christmas morning and it was obvious the mother was anxious to get home. However, ehr daughter was not quite as ready as her mom.

“I didn’t want this one!” the daughter was yelling, “I wanted the other one! This one is plain and ugly!” then proceeded to throw the doll on the ground.

Her mother bent down and responded, “You won’t be getting another, so I might as well go back and return this one!”

Her feet moving on their own accord, the girl ran over to the mother as she went to return the doll.

“Please,” she begged, “let me have the doll.”

The mother glanced up and down over the large coat and pants full of holes. It was obvious what she was thinking, but the girl was unfazed. There was only one thing she cared about at that moment.

“Aren’t you a bit old for dolls?” the mother asked, her voice hard and apprehensive taking note the girl was in her teenage years. Evidently she thought the girl would rob her of the doll if she said no.

“It’s not for me.”

Thoughts of Abbie brought tears to her eyes. She tried to hide them, but the mother took notice; her face softened in the process.

“Then why would you want it?” she asked in a more hospitable tone.

“My sister, Abbie. She wanted it.”

The girl briefly explained the situation. She ended with a barely audible please, but the mother heard it. She heard the word and the plea. With that last word hanging in the air between the two of them, the night air became still with the sun working its way into the sky. Then a sound broke the silence.

“Mommy, I know what I want for Christmas,” the five-year-old’s voice echoing in the crisp morning air.

The mother bent down low as the little girl whispered into her ear. Tears came to the mother’s eyes as she handed the doll to her daughter. The girl’s face appeared crestfallen. It lasted only a moment as it changed to surprise as the daughter came forward and handed her the doll.

“Thank you,” she whispered as tears flowed effortlessly down her face.

She turned away shyly, then ran as fast as she could to their makeshift home. She soon reached the small space by a dumpster where her sister had a cardboard box for a pillow and a blanket. Abbie looked up, her eyes already glazing over, as she looked to see the tears and smile on her big sister’s face.

“Merry Christmas,” the girl said as she handed Abbie the doll. She knelt beside the cardboard as Abbie hugged the doll close, a smile as wide as the ocean etched into her face. That’s when she realized she had never seen Abbie this truly and sincerely happy.

“Thank you,” Abbie whispered. Then she closed her eyes and was gone. The mom came over and started hugging her remaining daughter and crying. She just stared at her motionless sister. Abbie’s arms were still wrapped around the doll and the smile played over her face. She smiled through the tears. She may have given her sister the present she wanted, but her sister had given her the greatest gift. She got to see her smile from the bottom of her heart.

My mom and sister looked after me for so long, now I can look after them. Just from a different place. They can’t see me. Occasionally, though, I see a smile that tells me they know I’m there. And that is what makes me happy now.