There once were two little girls who were both four years old and the best of friends. Amy lived with her poor stepmother; Janice lived with her own large family with a mother, father, two younger sisters, and two older brothers. Amy was an only child but was an orphan, with hardly anything to call her own. Janice was a middle child but the oldest girl. Her mother expected a lot of help from her to care for the younger girls. The boys helped their dad with the farm work.
One day, when they had finished all their chores, they found rag doll in an old shack in the woods that joined the two farms. Not knowing the exact border, they both wanted to claim Cindy as their own. Neither of the girls had ever had anything that only belonged to themselves alone.
They decided to take turns playing with the doll in that old shack, but one day Janice and Amy had a fight. They wanted to take turns bringing the beautiful doll home. Amy wanted to take Cindy home first and so did Janice. They struggled over the rag doll pulling one way and then the next. Finally, they tore the doll in two. "Oh no, the girls cried out in unison. Whatever can we do now"?
Janice's father had overheard the cry from the woods and went to see if Janice was okay. When he found her with Amy in the old shack, he was very angry. His father had lived out his last days here and they had never forgiven each other for angry words exchanged between them. Dan's father would not consider going into a nursing home and thought that he was unwanted. He moved out of the house and lived as a recluse in this cabin. Dan felt very guilty. He decided to visit his dad one day, but when he got there he found his father dead. "Oh no, what have I done?" The memories kept pouring back and he wept right there in front of Amy and his daughter.
Amy and Janice didn't know what to think. "Was he so devastated over the destruction of the rag doll that they would be punished severely"? They were both in a panic, so they ran out of the cabin leaving everything behind.
Eventually Dan spoke to his father as if he were still there and asked forgiveness. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder and knew that he was forgiven and that his father knew what was really in Dan's heart. Dan was able to let his father go and be at peace.
The next day, the girls were surprised that Dan wasn't angry at them and hadn't even mentioned the doll in the cabin. They went back to that old shack and, to their amazement, found an old woman holding Cindy, one part in either arm. She asked Amy and Janice, "Is this doll yours"? Amy replied in a scared voice, "We found Cindy there and didn't know who she really belonged to". Janice said, "Cindy was mine, and Amy has ruined her! Now she's no good."
"What is that you say" asked the old woman? "No good"? "Yes" Janice replied, "She will never be the same again, even if Cindy could be sewn together somehow." Amy cried, "I'll take her just the way she is and get my stepmother to fix Cindy".
"Well, well" replied the old woman. "What is to be done?" "Will you let Amy have Cindy" she asked Janice? "Well, no" replied Janice hesitantly. "Maybe Cindy could be fixed after all" she thought to herself.
The old lady thought, and finally decided to surprise the girls. She said, "I'm pretty handy with a needle and thread. Why don't we meet here tomorrow and make the final decision?" After all this was my grandfather's shack, so it must belong to our family.
The old lady worked on the doll all night long and turned this old rag doll into a beautiful princess. She was excited to see what the girls' reaction would be.
Amy got to the cabin first the next day. She was stunned and overjoyed when she first saw Cindy's transformation. But then her face fell in disappointment; she realized that Janice would claim the doll as her own. Nevertheless, Amy took the doll from the old lady and cuddled her in her arms. "You're safe now Cindy. I'll never let anything bad happen to you ever again"!
Just then Janice ran into the old cabin and saw the doll. "She's beautiful" she exclaimed! "Give her to me Amy". Amy looked at the old woman, and she had turned into an angel. "What do you say oh heavenly angel"? The angel replied in a serious voice, "Now know this. Cindy will only remain as she is if she has someone to love and care for her. If anyone fights over her again she will disappear!"
Janice went to claim her, but Amy backed away trying to protect Cindy. Then the angel asked, "Shall I divide her into two pieces and give one half to each?" Janice asked the angel, "But won't she then vanish into nothing?" "No, the angel replied, "Not if I do it.. However, Cindy will never be whole again".
Janice said solemnly, "Go ahead and do it, for I know Amy will fight for her." Amy cried out, "Let Janice have her then. I could never let that happen!" Janice went to take the princess doll, but the angel declared, "I grant Amy the ownership of Cindy. She has shown her love by her willingness to give her up in order to remain whole." "But she's mine" complained Janice.
The angel replied, "You gave away your right to own the doll. You consented to have her cut into two pieces. Amy loves Cindy more than you. She would rather let you have her whole rather see Cindy hurt, while you, Janice, have no care for Cindy's welfare whatsoever. If you try to take her from Amy you will be punished beyond anything you can imagine." Janice turned to Amy and spat out spitefully, "she's yours." Amy and Janice turned to look at the angel, but she was gone, never to be seen again.
Moral of the story: "If you love something (or someone), set it free. If it comes back, you deserve to have it. If it doesn't, it was never yours to begin with".
Beverly Wallin, Positive Psychology Coach and Writer
For a free consultation, call 1-855-458-2332 or email info@coachingforhealthandwellness.com
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