Gò0dNews for Women
Priceless
N
by Alison Nichols
estled on the top of my bookshelf, you’ll find
would carry him into each adventure. Then at night,
an old teddy bear. To the wandering eye,
he would protect me while I slept.
it wouldn’t receive a second glance, but to
As we all know, things change over time, as did
me…it’s priceless. I received this bear when I was
the appearance of my bear. His soft white fur became
4 years old while on a family vacation in the Great
faded and thin from countless washes. His nose was
Smoky Mountains. I still remember my grandpa, or
scratched and worn. He went from two eyes to one,
“Pawpaw,” as I would call him, giving the bear to
and still to this day, I don’t know what happened.
me. How excited I was! When asked what I was going
One ear was stretched out of place. The thread that
to name him, I said, “Pawpaw Bear.” Little did my
had so delicately made his smile had come unraveled,
family know how much I would grow to love him.
leaving an emotionless, one-eyed bear. Despite his haggard appearance, I still loved him. He was special. He was mine. Just as I carried my “Pawpaw Bear” wherever I went, so does the Father carry us through every season of our lives. Some of those times take us by surprise, while others are long and drawn out with seemingly no end in sight. We may feel faded, scratched, worn, damaged, unraveled, emotionless, and haggard. We are none of those things. We are a carefully crafted masterpiece with no flaws. Each of us was
In his heyday, Pawpaw Bear had soft white fur, a little brown nose, two brown eyes, and was always ready for fun. There were two ears perfect
formed by the Creator of the universe in His infinite wisdom. We are loved. We are special. We are His. “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
for listening to my secrets. He would always give the
How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them,
best hugs.
they are more than the sand” (Psalm 139:17-18).
Pawpaw Bear went with me everywhere. With his paw clutched in my hand and a smile on his face, I
14 // April 2020
About The Author
From rides to school to vacations to the beach, Alison Nichols is an active member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia. She loves vintage clothing, antique cameras, and spending time with her family.
