The Big Gift

Felicity first entered my life when I was nine. I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. But as soon as I could read fluently, I was hooked on the Felicity books by the American Girl company.

Eventually, I found out that they also made a Felicity doll, and it was the only thing I wanted for Christmas that year. Unfortunately, this was during a time when my parents’ combined income was meager. My father and mother expressed that they simply couldn’t afford the $100 doll.

I spent the rest of the year poring through American Girl catalogues, but I never again thought about owning the doll. I understood that if the money wasn’t there, there was no use wishing for it.

Then, Christmas came. There were many presents under the tree with my name on them. Honestly, I didn’t remember much about them except that Mom told me to save the long, rectangular present, on the bottom, for last.

Every year, my siblings and I each received a “big gift” that we would save for last. It was always the present that would top all the others, so I figured that that oblong box was my “big gift.” And it was. I will never forget the awe that I felt as I undid the wrapping and saw the Felicity doll inside.

To this day, I don’t know how my parents did it. Felicity became my best friend. She went everywhere with me, and I still have her today. She’s become a precious reminder of the childhood miracles that happen at Christmas.  

Copyright © 2017 by Abigail Shaffer. Previously published in Winter 2017 edition of Miracle Living Today magazine, a publication of the Christian Broadcasting Network. Used by permission.