Worth

Once there was a shabby and disheveled doll named Perpetua. Perpetua had not always been shabby, but now she was. Stained and dingy, the dress that once covered Perpetua's stuffing so prettily, could not be called pretty any more. One of her button eyes was gone, much of her yarn hair had come out, and what remained of that hung like limp brown strings dangling from a half-bald pompon. Her pinafore drooped by one strap and a few threads. The stitching in her legs had come partially undone, and stuffing poked out the openings. It was dingy, too. Most people wouldn’t have given two cents for such an object, and many more would have said, "To the dustbin with you." For not only was Perpetua not worth anything, she was a real eyesore.

Now the trash is a terrible place for anyone to end up, even for an old rag doll. But sadly that is where the little girl of our story first saw Perpetua. Sure that someone had played a cruel joke on a real person, the little girl fished the doll out and took her home. She did not think there had ever been a more beautiful doll. She loved Perpetua just the way she was. But out of respect for the doll’s dignity, she cleaned her up as best she could. Hugging close from morning until evening, and every night sharing a pillow, hardly ever were the girl and her doll apart.

But then one day something terrible happened; Perpetua got lost. The little girl was broken hearted and looked every where for her friend, calling and calling her name, "Perpetua, Perpetua." She looked high. Standing on a chair she stretched herself as tall as she could to see above a topmost closet shelf. But there was nothing other than some old brown boxes and a stack of aged-yellow magazines. She climbed the stairs and looked in the attic too: but no Perpetua.

The little girl looked low. She crawled under her bed and felt among the dust bunnies; and filled with great dread she crept down cold, damp steps to the basement and hunted through a great number of musty objects. But Perpetua was not to be found anywhere.

Once the little girl had been sure her friend was discovered. When she saw poking out the side of her momma's sewing basket a corner of familiar blue cloth, her heart raced. Thinking the scrap was part of Perpetua's dress, she pulled on it - only to be disappointed one more time. But though the little girl was very sad, she was also stubborn enough not to allow this to stop her from looking.

And so she continued her quest, until one day it came to pass that she must take a journey on an airplane. There she met a kind lady with soft brown eyes. "Just like Perpetua’s," thought the girl. Watching out for people on the plane was the lady's job, the little girl was told; the lady had to make sure that every one stayed safe and happy. But someone on the plane does not look happy at all, the lady thought. It was the little girl. But when the lady tried to help her, the little girl only hunched her shoulders and ducked her head.

The lady was persistent. "What is wrong?" she asked. "Why are your eyes so sad?"

"It is because I lost Perpetua," the little girl finally answered, peering up at the lady. For a very long time I have hunted for her, but I haven't been able to find her. And I know Perpetua misses me as much as I miss her. This very minute she may be crying because she has no one to love or care for her."

"But who is Perpetua?" asked the lady.

"Oh, Perpetua is my best friend. She is a real person, disguised as a doll," replied the little girl.

"And what does Perpetua look like?" the lady wanted to know.

This time she did not hesitate a minute before answering. "Well, you see, Perpetua is very beautiful. She has brown hair like cocoa and her eyes match her hair. Her dress is blue and her apron is white with yellow flowers. She keeps herself neat and clean – and because she is so very pretty anyone would want her for their very own doll. I fear she has been kidnapped!"

"Oh!" said the lady. "And where did you last see Perpetua?"

For a moment the girl was silent, appearing lost in thought. "I keep trying to remember," she finally responded. "My Momma and my Daddy took me and Perpetua on a long journey and it was after that I noticed that Perpetual was missing."

"Was your trip on an airplane like this one?" asked the lady.

"Yes!" The little girl answered, " it looked exactly like this one. I remember I fell asleep on the seat."

"Don't be sad any more," said the lady. "I think I can help you. Just now I must go away for a while, but I will be back soon. " And remember, you are not to worry."

The little girl tried to be patient. That many hours had gone by she was certain; but it was really only a very few minutes that passed. She wondered, "Now, what did the lady mean when she said she might help?"

Just about the time the little girl was sure the lady was not coming back, suddenly she saw her standing there in the aisle, holding a bundle wrapped in a white towel. The lady passed the bundle to the little girl, who parted the cloth and looked inside. Shabby Perpetua looked back. And so it was Perpetua returned, appearing exactly as the little girl remembered her. Perpetua was still the same beautiful person she always had been. And she was loved, if possible, even more than before.

And so what can we say is the measure of Perpetua’s worth? Well, it is not to be counted by the negative profit implied by her appearance alone, nor is it to be assumed by the negative light in which others might view her! But rather, we must reckon it, by the inestimable value assigned her in the heart of one very small girl - the one who loved her best.

And that, my friends, was very much indeed.

The little girl and Perpetua lived happily ever after.

~The End

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with
an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
JER 31:3 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
JN 3:16 KJV

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends. JN 15:13

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. ROM 5:8

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
even when we were dead in sins, EPH 2:4 - 5a

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
filled with all the fulness of God. EPH 3:19

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it
knew him not. 1JN 3:1

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his
only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1JN 4:9

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his
Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1JN 4:10