A Christmas story
Written October 1, 2007
For my sis-in-love, Laura
And our beloved Daddies
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalms 91:4
It was Christmas Eve and all the other toys had been bought. There, high on the top shelf, she sat. Glistening in the sunlight, her wings were soft and white as snow. But no one seemed to have any use for an angel doll with crooked curls.
Once, she had been the doll that every little girl wanted. One day, in a tussle between two greedy tikes, one tugged this way and the other tugged that way. The doll’s curls were pulled loose.
The kind ol’ shopkeeper hadn’t the heart to discard her. So, he righted her curls as best he could. Then he placed her high upon the top shelf where she’d be safe. There she sat and watched the other toys go home with children each day. Still, she smiled sweetly, hoping for the day someone would take her home.
Now, the sun was sinking and shadows grew over the tiny shop. Soon, the kind ol’ shopkeeper would turn out the lights and head home. The tinkling of the bell over the shop door rang merrily into the sleepy shop. A hushed voice spoke to the kind ol’ shopkeeper and the kind ol’ shopkeeper answered:
“Perhaps,” he said, ‘I have the perfect gift.”
He made his way to the bookcase and reached up to the top shelf. He took the angel doll down and righted her curls. Then, he nestled her into a cradle of tissue paper and tied the box closed with a big red bow.
“No charge,” said the kind ol’ shopkeeper.
Awhile later, the box was opened. Staring down at the angel doll was a cherub face surrounded in curls. It was a little girl! “Merry Christmas Angel,” said the voice from the toy shop. The little girl reached in and lifted the doll, but the curls caught and fell softly back into the box.
“Oh,” thought the angel doll. “Surely they will return me to the shop, because no one wants an angel doll without curls.”
But she was mistaken.
“Oh Daddy,” cried the little girl. “She’s just like me!” And with that, she pulled off her own curls and settled back against the pillows of her hospital bed cuddling the angel doll.
“Merry Christmas Daddy!”
The End
The story behind this tale is two-fold. Our first Christmas in Bakersfield, my Mom and our daughters visited a sleepy shop on Main Street. There, my Mom bought me an angel doll, because, “No doll should be alone on a shelf on Christmas Eve.” When I penned this story two years later, prior to my sister-in-love’s Dad’s passing, I was bothered by my dedication. I dedicated it to our “Daddies,” but my heart soured when I thought of how my biological father was not included in that dedication and I offered up a prayer. Always faithful, God healed that brokenness the following month in a six hour visit a month prior to his passing.
I included this story with my Christmas cards one year, with a white feather and crystal glitter!
I also made ornaments for family and neighbors by placing a white feather and glitter in a clear glass ball and tied with a silver ribbon! Very easy to make and a wonderful way to honor a cancer survivor, victim or loved one gone Home!
*you may view a video version of this tale at:
Angel's Tale Video