Little Girl Lost

Once when the world was simple;
A rag doll was sewn out of love;
For a little girl of long ago
The doll sat alone on a store shelf;
Dusty, dirty, and forgotten;
A bright yellow print dress;
Worn under a white pinafore;
Faded tiny pink flowers;
Her hair woven in bright orange yarn;
Dulled by time and neglect;
She has dark button eyes;
And an endearing smile;
On a sad day, I found her;
Bonding took place instantly;
As memories came flooding;
Fast as my tears fell;
Ten dollars was all that I had;
But that was somehow enough;
I could not bring myself to put her back;
So I took her home with me;
Straight away I went to work;
Washing her clothes;
Sponging her with bleach;
I sewed together a small tear in her arm;
I was passionately busy all day;
Once dried and dressed;
She now looks almost new;
She reminds me of me;
Stained and worn;
Beaten by time and trials;
Longing to recapture lost innocence;
Yet, she still can smile and bring a smile;
She wears her heart exposed;
A little girl lost and found;
Fraught with a new sense of purpose;
To love and to be loved in return;
Every once in awhile;
When I feel very sad or hurt;
When my weary heart can bear no more;
I will give that doll a hug.
For I know that God is hugging me too.