IT WAS A bitterly cold evening in December, and the stores were crowded with shoppers coming and going. Shop windows were colorfully dressed and brightly lighted for the festive season. In front of one of the large stores, and holding each other’s hand, three little girls stood gazing into the window. Their poor thin little bodies shivered beneath their scanty clothing, their teeth chattered with the cold, yet they were fascinated by the brilliant display of toys inside.
Only two of the little girls could see, for the one in the center was blind. Tucked underneath each arm was a little rag doll very likely picked up in an alley — but it cost nothing to look at the toys in the window.
Just at that moment a well-dressed man came rushing out of the store, his arm tucked full of toys for his own happy little family. He was a well-known surgeon, and almost bumped into the three little tykes gazing wistfully into the beautiful shop window. The sight touched his heart. He could see they were very poor, and he delayed for a moment to listen to their conversation.
“Over there,” said one of the little girls, “is a beautiful dolly’s house. It has windows that open and a real door —”
“Yes,” said the little girl on the other side, “and over there is the most beautiful doll with long brown curls. I think she can walk, and she closes her eyes when you lay her down Here the doctor interrupted and asked why two explained everything to the little girl in the center. Then stooping down and looking into her upturned eyes he saw that she was blind.
Putting his packages in the back of his car he came back to the three little waifs and asked about the little girl in the middle. “She ain’t got no momma,” said one.
“Her momma is dead,” spoke up the other one, “and she lives with us.”
The doctor told them who he was and since he seemed so kind, the little ones allowed him to take them home in his car. Down into the poor district they went and stopped in front of a typical slum dwelling.
An untidy woman appeared at the door and told him she had taken the little girl in the day her mother had died, and was doing her best to care for the little orphan.
Said the doctor: “I’m an eye specialist and I’m sure that if we were to operate on the little girl’s eyes she can see again. It will not cost you anything. If the operation is not successful the little one will not be the worse off, and if it is, she will see.”
So with the woman’s consent, he took the little girl with him to the hospital. The news traveled fast through the wards, and the little girl from off the street won the hearts of all the nurses and doctors and patients as well. More than one prayed that those little blind eyes would see.
The day came for the operation; soon it was all over. The little patient with her eyes all bandaged over was put back to bed. The door sat beside her and stroked her head. “It will be a while yet,” he said, “and then one at a time we shall take off the bandages and I believe, my little darling, you will be able to see for the first time in your life.”
The nurse was busy in the corner of the room. There stood a beautiful doll’s house — exactly the same as the one in the store window. And beside it there rested a beautiful doll with lovely brown curls, and many other pretty things that would delight a little girl.
Then the moment arrived. One by one the bandages came off. The nurse’s heart almost stopped beating, and the doctor’s hand quivered.
Slowly in the dimly lighted room the last bandage came off. The little eyelids raised. A smile came over the little face and with it a little gasp of joy. She saw — as far as she was able to see then. Later when her eyes would focus properly she would see perfectly. She looked at the bright lights, then at the dolls and the doll house. She gazed with rapture at the doctor.
“Don’t you like those pretty things?” he asked.
“Oh yes,” she replied, “I am very glad, but I’m gladdest ... most of all... for you!” She loved best of all the man who had given her sight.
May it be so between us and the Lord Jesus, dear young friends. Is He not “the chiefest among ten thousand” (Song of Sol. 5:1010My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. (Song of Solomon 5:10))? He who came to earth and died for sinners, so that we might be with Him in heaven? The way for a Christian, and the only way for a sinner, to honor Him is to believe on Him; for He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
He has opened the eyes of countless sinners to see in Himself the only Saviour, the “altogether lovely” One. If He is not that to you, come to Him today and let Him reveal Himself to your soul as the Friend and Saviour you need. Then you will be able to say like one of old, “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” John 9:2525He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25).
ML-04/02/1972