Lehi Utah Stake Relief Society

This story was shared with the 1st ward Relief Society on Sunday. We received permission from Sister Shirlean Stone to share this on our blog.  This is a beautiful true story about giving and receiving, from a beautiful, sweet sister in our Stake.   
Thank you Sister Stone and Sister Williams!

The Christmas Doll Parable

By Peggy K. Williams, (written as she remembers Shirlean telling her.)

My husband and I had the pleasure of living next door to Kay and Shirlean Stone for several years when we were first married. We were additionally fortunate to have this sweet couple as our home teachers while we lived in the Lehi First Ward. It was during a home teaching visit one December that Shirlean shared the following Christmas experience from her childhood.

As a child, Shirlean loved her dolls. She had a special place in her room just for them. Despite the fact that she played with them often, they were kept in perfect order and condition because she cherished each one dearly. While all her dolls were loved, Shirlean had one doll of which she was especially fond. Of all her dolls Shirlean thought this particular doll she had named Diane was the most beautiful.

One December day when Shirlean was 9 or 10 years old, her mother came to her and told her there was a nearby family that was struggling financially. Shirlean’s parents had decided they wanted to make Christmas a little merrier for this family and they extended the invitation to their children to help. There was a little girl in the family that was about Shirlean’s age. Shirlean’s  mother asked her if she’d like to give one of her dolls to the neighbor girl for Christmas.  Shirlean thought it over and agreed.

“Now which doll do I give away?” she thought to herself.  Shirlean studied each doll, made her selection and took her second favorite doll to show her mother. “Well, if that’s the one you want to give her, okay,” her mother said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Shirlean felt a twinge inside as she walked back to her room. She knew how she loved to receive nice things. She also knew that her second favorite doll’s hair didn’t look quite as beautiful as Diane’s hair. Her second-favorite doll also showed the wear of having been ‘loved’ longer than Diane.

“If Jesus had to pick which doll to give away He would give Diane to the little girl,” Shirlean thought to herself. Once the idea ‘I want to be like Jesus’ entered her mind, Shirlean knew what Jesus would do. She knew He would give His best, and she picked Diane too!

With her very most favorite doll in her arms, Shirlean and her mom went to visit the family. As her mother briefly explained the purpose of their visit and handed the parents a box full of Christmas cheer, Shirlean offered their little daughter her beautiful, beloved Diane. Shirlean’s emotions were mixed as the transfer was made. But once Diane was nestled in the little girl’s arms, Shirlean felt complete joy. The little girl’s lips curled into a smile of appreciation as she hugged her new doll. The visit was brief; Christmas wishes were exchanged; and the door closed behind them.

As Shirlean and her mother returned home, a warm feeling spread through her little body bearing witness that she had given “the good gift” and that Jesus was proud of her act of charity. “This is a beautiful Christmas,” she thought to herself.

On Christmas afternoon  Shirlean  and her family piled into the car to visit nearby friends. With the small house full of four adults and the children from two families,  Shirlean and a her friend decided to take a walk. The two girls engaged in conversation as they continued for some distance. Suddenly  Shirlean recognized the house she and her mother had visited earlier to deliver the Christmas goodies. Her smile at the memory faded quickly as her eyes caught sight of something lying in the snow. In disbelief her brain tried to make sense of what she saw. Diane? That couldn’t be Diane! Her beloved and beautiful Diane was lying askew on the cold frozen snow.

Immediately tears welled up in Shirlean’s eyes. How could her “good gift” be left abandoned in the snow? How could the little neighbor girl care so little for the doll Shirlean sacrificed to give her? There was a lump in Shirlean’s throat. A lump that repeated swallowing would not remove. Shirlean had never felt this way before.

Later Shirlean poured out her heart to her mother. Tears streamed down  Shirlean’s cheeks as she relived her devastation. A very wise mother then taught her that they had given their gifts to cheer up the family and to make the little girl happy. That purpose had been accomplished. She continued to say that Heavenly Father blessed Shirlean for the perfect gifts he gave freely. He didn’t bless her for the way the gift was received by another.

Shirlean never forgot the lesson she learned at Christmas so many years ago. Her mother’s words have guided the way she has chosen to give throughout her life. Always she gives “the good gift” to others and leaves the rest to Heavenly Father.

What a touching story. Every time I think of Shirlean’s experience I am reminded of another gift. The gift I refer to was given at Christmas time over 2,000 years ago when a loving Father in Heaven sent His Son as a gift to every soul who had and would be born on this earth. Our Father loves His Son in ways we can’t begin to comprehend. Truly He loves His perfect, obedient Son just as His Son loves Him. We are the recipients of their love—each and every one of us whether we accept that love or not.

I wonder when our Heavenly Father looks down upon His children if He shakes His head in disbelief. I wonder if His eyes well up in tears at what He sees His children doing with His gift. I wonder if His heart aches when He sees that His gift to the world is cast aside or left “lying on the snow”?

This wondrous, amazing gift was freely given. To accept this gift all we need to do is live our lives as our Father and His Son would have us live.

I invite you to ask yourself this question: “Have I accepted His gracious gift with love and appreciation?"