In front of a large department store three little girls were standing hand in hand gazing into the window. They were fascinated. Their thin little bodies were shivering underneath their insufficient clothing, and their teeth were chattering with the cold. But they were fascinated by the brilliant array of toys on which their poor little eyes feasted.
Only two of the three little girls could see. The one in the center was blind. They had only rag dolls themselves, and their play things were what they picked up in alleys. But they could look at the toys in the window, for it cost nothing to look.
Even as they stood in front of the window, a famous surgeon rushed out of the store, his arms filled with toys for his own happy little children. He almost bumped into the three standing there, gazing wistfully into the beautiful window. Their poverty-stricken condition touched his heart and he stopped for a moment to listen. One of the little girls on the outside was speaking.
“Over there,” she said, “is a beautiful doll’s house—so big! It has windows that open and a real door—and—”
“Yes, and over on the other side is a beautiful doll with long brown curls,” said the little girl on the other side.
“And she closes her eyes when you lay her down and she can walk, and—”
Here the doctor interrupted. Why must the two have to explain to the thin, wan little thing in the middle? Then stooping down he looked into her eyes and saw that she was blind.
Throwing his packages into the back of his car he came back to the three little girls and asked some questions.
“She ain’t got no mama!” explained one of the little girls.
“Her mommy is dead, and she lives with us,” piped up the other one.
Soon he had won their confidence and was taking them home in his car. Stopping before a typical slum dwelling he knocked, and an untidy woman opened the door. She explained that the little girl was not hers, but she had taken her in the day her mother died and she was doing the best she could to care for the little orphan.
The doctor told her he was an eye specialist and was convinced that an operation would bring sight to those little eyes. “I would like to take her with me,” he said. “It won’t cost you a penny. If I fail, she won’t be any the worse off; and if I succeed, this poor little girl will see.”
The news quickly ran through the hospital that the famous surgeon had picked up a little blind girl and was going to operate on her eyes. The little patient soon won the hearts of all who came in contact with her, and more than one prayed that those little blind eyes might see.
Soon the operation was over, and the little girl sat in bed for days with bandages over her eyes. Then came the tremendous moment with those bandages when they were to be taken off. The doctor sat by her bedside and stroked her little head gently.
“It will be a little while yet,” he said, “and then one at a time we shall take off the bandages and I believe, my little darling, that you will be able to see.” In the corner of the room was a beautiful doll’s house—the identical one that had been in the shop window, and beside it a pretty doll with lovely brown curls, and many other things the heart of a little girl could desire.
One by one the bandages were taken off; then came the last. The nurse held her breath; the doctor’s hand trembled. Slowly in the dimly lighted room the last bandage was removed. The little eyelids raised. The light shone in. There was a little gasp of joy. She saw—imperfectly at first, for it would take time for her to learn to focus her eyes correctly. But that would come. The operation was a success. She gazed in rapture at the doctor.
The doctor pointed out the doll house, and the doll, and said through his tears, “All those are for you, dear!”
But she could only look at him. “Don’t you like the pretty doll?” he asked, giving it to her.
“Oh yes!” she replied, “I like all those pretty things, but I’m gladdest... most of all... for you.”
She was glad most of all for the man who had given her her sight.
Once we were blind,
But now we can see;
Once we were bound,
But now we are free.
The Lord Jesus has opened the blind eyes of all those who have come and believed in Him as their Saviour. He gives us many, many blessings beside. We are glad for all the wonderful things He gives us, but we ought to be “gladdest” of all for Himself—the Giver. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
How little it cost the doctor, under God’s good hand, to help the little orphan girl to see. But it cost the Son of God His life to bring life and light to poor blind and dead sinners like us. Surely we ought to love and thank Him for such a sacrifice.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
The Stars
The Best Book
The Bible is the best Book,
The Book we hold so dear;
A Story Book, a Picture Book,
A Book of Songs to cheer.
The Bible tells of Jesus,
Now in His Home above;
The Bible brings the message sweet.
THAT GOD IS LOVE.
ML-03/25/1979