A little over two years ago, I wrote this entry about the discarded Lell-Funt who was redeemed from the Giveaway pile by little Jill. It's necessary background to this next chapter in the well-known pattern.
Living Out the Redemption Process in Preschool
Lell-Funt was created somehow. He came into our family through our friends the Georges at Jill's birth. To Jill, he was loved and known from before the beginning of time--at least as it applies to her.
But Lell-Funt fell from grace--again, at least in the limited context of this story. He lost favor in Miriam's eyes, and she discarded him. But Jill, who had known him from before the beginning, would have none of that. She redeemed him from destruction and permanent separation.
Today, Jill has a friend over for the afternoon. It's a big deal for a 5-year-old. Though we just got the details worked out last night, she has been planning this for weeks. "When can Maddy come? I want Maddy! I miss Maddy!" And so Maddy is here, and Jill has set her entire mind and focus on showing Maddy everything that is important to her, here in Jill's Little World.
The discussion in the car was precious. "We have an attic," Jill said. "There are some toys up there, but we don't need to get any down. I have TONS of toys. Wait till you see!" Maddy seemed appropriately interested. "Do you have blocks? I'm a good builder. I like to build." "We have blocks," said Jill. "In the attic. But wait till you see what I have in my ROOM."
I'm wondering what Jill has in mind. She got for Christmas an 18-inch doll along the lines of the American Girl dolls (but FAR less expensive). Just last week, we brought down from that mysterious and intriguing attic place the big, brown chest full of American Girl clothes and accessories that the bigger girls were willing to stash away for now. Jill and Miriam have been enjoying sifting through those. Was it the doll and all its gilded toys that Jill wanted to share?
Or was it the big plastic horse--large enough for little ones like Jill and Maddy to sit on? Or maybe the Pirate Ship that really makes sounds?
No. None of those.
When the most-favored and anticipated guest arrived, Jill had one special toy to introduce to her. She brought him out in her arms and held him up: "This is Horton!" she said with utter pride. "He's a ell-funt. He is all mine. I 'deemed him. I love him. Want to play with him?"
I couldn't believe it. Lell-Funt had graduated to his New Name. And he, this humble outcast, was now the one most treasured possession that little Jill wanted to show off to her friend. She remembered how she had rescued him. And now, here he is, presented as spotless, perfected, mature. Desirable. The perfect possession. Lell-Funt the outcast has been brought to Glory.
I wonder how long two years is in the life of a stuffed animal. The blink of an eye? Or more like a thousand years? Impossible to say. But the encouraging thing I heard today is that he made it. And so, let's just press on a little longer.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. -- Romans 8: 29-30
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