The Parable of the Little Match Girl (Episode 3)

Hello All,

The part of the poem that we will be emphasizing on today is highlighted in blue. The black colour text in the poem is a recap of what we have already done for the past few weeks.

Let us now continue our story with the third episode of this poem... 

The Parable of the Little Match Girl (Episode 3)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (13^th November 2013)

Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Match Girl'

This tale is set in the year eighteen forty three

During the Christmas season in a great city

Of Denmark where the poor remained in poverty

Comfort and pleasures were only for the wealthy

In the most impoverished part of the city            

A little girl in rags was counting the money

She had made from selling matches to the wealthy

The rich who were miserly towards the needy

The winter winds blew into the cold attic room

Where the poor girl shivered at her impending doom

Business was bad and she feared the outcome that loomed

O'er her as she lay on the floor in tearful gloom

Her heart sank as she heard the pounding on the door

She got up reluctantly from the cold, hard floor

Her legs felt much heavier than the day before

Her stomach twisted with pain to the very core

She unbolted the door and shuddered fearfully

As she pulled open the only wooden boundary

Which shielded her from the imminent penalty

Of merciless harshness, violence and cruelty

Her father staggered into the room drunkenly 

And slammed the wooden door behind him furiously

'How much is there?!' he glared at her sack of money

Which she handed over to him faint heartedly  

'Pittance!' he yelled as he threw the sack angrily

At the petrified girl who bent down tearfully

On her poor knees to gather her hard-earned money

Her actions infuriated him immensely

He hurled and smashed his bottle of wine on the ground

Glass fragments cut her, but she dared not make a sound

He struck a blow on her head which threw her face down

Her vision dimmed; she passed out on the glass-strewn ground

She awoke the next day, her fresh wounds hurt badly

He must have left to the tavern with her money

She took her basket of matches dutifully

And set out in hopes to sell them in the city

It was too cold to walk barefooted in winter

So she put on a pair of ill-fitting slippers

Which belonged to her late and dearest grandmother

Who was no longer there to comfort and love her

She walked to an affluent part of the city

The shops and streets were decorated splendidly

All the people were going about busily

Attending to their Christmas shopping and parties

The poor little girl begged everyone she could find

To buy some of her matches but time after time

She was greatly disappointed when they declined

To pay attention and spare the poor girl a dime

As she was running hastily across the street

To avoid some carriages as she tried to beat

The busy traffic, her slippers dropped off her feet

She couldn't find them after searching the snowy street

As her bare feet sank into the icy cold snow

Her blue eyes welled up with tears which began to flow

Down her cheeks as she could not contain the sorrow

Of losing Grandma's things; why did she have to go?

She wiped her tears, took up her basket and pressed on

And continued selling her matches all day long

It grew dark for the night had come; the day had gone

The streets were deserted and the girl was forlorn

For a single box of matches she had not sold

To go home penniless, she could not be so bold

It would be better to stay outside in the cold

Than to return home and face such terror untold

She retreated quickly to a sheltered corner

Between two houses; she thought about her mother

Who had died when she was just a little toddler

Just a year ago, death claimed her dear grandmother

It was snowing heavily; the night grew colder

Under her dress, she drew her cold feet close to her

Her efforts were in vain; she did not feel warmer

Outside was much colder than her house in winter

The snowflakes clung to her beautiful long, red hair

Her pale cheeks were flushed pink from the cold winter air

She was shivering as she mouthed a silent prayer

Then she realized that she could use her matches' flare

To keep herself warm; so from the bundle she drew

A matchstick which she struck to yield an orange blue

Flame with warmth that delighted her through and through

When she held her hand closer to the flame, it grew

Smaller, flickered and died, so the match girl quickly

Lit her second match which yielded, surprisingly

A great iron stove in which a fire burned brightly

She stretched out her feet towards the stove eagerly

To warm them, but it vanished with the flame swiftly

As she held the burnt-out match she immediately

Threw it aside, lit the third match and hopefully

The third vision would last and stay permanently

The flame caused the wall near her to turn transparent

She saw, into the room within, an excellent

Array of food which gave forth a very fragrant

Aroma; so she reached out to touch the distant

Christmas pies, puddings, cakes, candies and carved turkey

Which vanished when the flame died; she was left hungry

And wanting more, so she struck the fourth match quickly

And saw lovely presents under a Christmas tree

The Christmas lights were glowing so beautifully

But just as she was gazing at the Christmas tree

The flame went out; she came back to reality

She drew the fifth match and struck it so fervently

The match flamed up and there appeared right before her

The person she loved most - her dearest grandmother

She had never looked happier and healthier

She was so radiant and had never looked better

'Dear grandmother, please stay with me and do not leave me'

'Grandma, please don't vanish!' the girl cried desperately

As she lit the remaining matches hastily

And held them in a bundle which burned so brightly

Her grandmother held her in her arms lovingly

'It is yet too early for you to come with me

God has his divine plan for you which you will see

Live now for Christ ere you enter eternity

I love you very much, my dear little Ashley

But I know Jesus loves you even more dearly

His grace will carry you through your adversities'

The flame was snuffed out by a wind which blew strongly

Her dearest grandmother disappeared instantly

Ashley's lips trembled as she held on so tightly

To the bundle of matches which, regrettably

Had burnt-out; so she started to sob bitterly

So grieved was she that she passed out of consciousness

Her hopes and dreams were dashed into little pieces

She lay still in the snow with the burnt-out matches

Still gathered within her firm grip of steadfastness

She awoke and found herself in a place so bright

It was a cosy room with many candle lights

At the corner, she beheld such a lovely sight

Of a pretty Christmas tree standing in great height

'How’re you feeling?' asked a beautiful young lady

Who came into the room, unnoticed by Ashley

She was speechless and looked at the lady blankly

The lady sat near her and held her hand gently

'Poor child, you must have been through much,' she said kindly

'Kind ma'am, am I still dreaming?' asked confused Ashley

'No, my dear child, you are not,' said the kind lady

'You're safe in a church,' she said reassuringly

'My name is Laura, what is yours?' asked the lady

'Ashley… I sell matches…' the girl said candidly

'My husband and I were visiting Aunt Betty

When we found you passed out in the snow, so quickly

We brought you to the church, our home, which was nearby

Where my husband, Ted, kept his medical supply

You were delirious; your fever was very high

Ted has brought it down; rest now and on this bed lie'

Then Laura looked down as she heaved a troubled sigh

'We noticed your wounds; be not afraid or deny

If you are being hurt; on us you can rely

To help you, by God's grace, to bid torment goodbye'

Tears welled up and gushed freely from poor Ashley's eyes

Laura held the girl close as she began to cry

'When I have not earned enough for father to buy

His wine, he hits me and cares not if I should die!

I hate my father with all my heart, mind and soul!

But I fear his cruel, violent and vicious blows!

How I miss my grandma who died a year ago

She was the only one who truly loved me so'

Laura's tender heart was moved with great compassion

'The trials you've faced are beyond our comprehension

But God has placed us here in your situation

To be your guardian, if you will, through adoption'

Ashley's eyes lit up with delight and amazement

God has delivered her from her predicament

'Oh, really? Will you and Ted become my parents?

Dear mother, this will be my best Christmas present!'

Laura embraced her newfound daughter lovingly

She cried as she recalled the small stillborn baby

Who came into this world and departed swiftly

Five years back; it was still clear in her memory

'My dear child, you would have had a little sister

If God's will had not permitted death to claim her

We do not understand why we have to suffer

'Does God truly care?' the pain does make us wonder

But when I look upon the cross of Calvary

Where Jesus suffered for sinners like you and me

He understood suffering through pain and agony

He died so that, from sin and death, we can be free

He feels our pain, he knows our grief, he understands

Behold now and touch the scars of his nail-pierced hands

Which speak of his great love for sinful, wretched man

Forgiveness he offers to sinners who repent

Your father has hurt and wronged you, now that is true

I cannot deny the pain he has put you through

But think of how your Saviour has forgiven you

Pray for Him to help you forgive your father too'

Hateful thoughts and memories flashed through Ashley's mind

There was no room for compassion that she could find

In her wounded heart; for only a love divine

Could help her to forgive and leave the past behind

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the floor

And then they heard a steady rapping on the door

'Come in, my dear,' Laura knew who it was before

The familiar knocking resounded from the door

Ted entered in with a tray of food in his hands

He stood at a towering height; a sturdy man

Whose love for the outdoors was pronounced in his tan

Which bore the colour of a light brown rugged land

'Here's the food which you've prepared for the young lady'

His dark grey eyes twinkled as he looked at Ashley

'My dearest Ashley, this is my husband, Teddy

Who is now your newfound father and family'

Ashley observed Ted and felt a sense of safety

She knew that he would care for her responsibly

He would not treat her with harshness and cruelty

So unlike her former father in history

‘Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you,’ Ted said kindly

‘Here, have some good, warm food for you must be hungry’

Ted laid the food on the bedside table gently

And pulled a chair close to the bed to face Ashley

Then he took off his reverend collar casually

So now Ashley knew why this church in the city

Was the cosy abode of her new family

Her eyes gleamed at the sight of rye bread, carved turkey

And potatoes; the good food made her mouth water

She consumed the food quickly with no leftovers

And then she realized that she did not remember

To say her grace before her heavenly Father

‘Mum and dad, I did not say my grace… I’m sorry…’

So embarrassed was she that her face flushed rosy

Ted laughed heartily while Laura smiled amusedly

And said, ‘Don’t worry, we know that you are hungry

Just remember to say your grace for the next meal’

Ashley’s eyes shone with delight, she could not conceal

Her great joy which overflowed from the broken seal

Of traumas and wounds which were beginning to heal

TO BE CONTINUED...

Points for Reflection:

·         Ashley hated her abusive father. Many would say, ‘Yes, and rightly so. What a terrible father he is! She has all the right to hate him and even bring him to court!’

·         Child abuse is a felony and yes, he does deserve punishment under the law. But does she have the right to bear a hateful grudge against him?

·         God is righteous and mankind has willfully turned away from him. No one, not even the most morally upright philanthropist, is able to measure up to the level of God’s righteousness. The good works that we do are external and cannot deal with the sinful heart – its selfish thoughts and desires which can be neatly tucked away and concealed from the eyes of the world.

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

(Romans 3:10-11)

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

(Isaiah 64:6)

·         But God loved us so much that he was willing to send his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the perfect substitute in bearing the sin of humanity so that those who repent and receive forgiveness from him can be saved from spiritual death and gain eternal life. Jesus suffered the painful agony on the cross for filthy sinners like us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16)

·         As difficult as it sounds, Ashley does not have the right to persist in her bitter and unforgiving attitude towards her father. Just as her father deserved to be punished under the law of his country, so does she and the rest of humanity deserve the judgment of eternal death under God’s law – if God did not, by his grace, provided Jesus Christ to bear that wrath in our place. If she has truly understood and experienced the forgiveness that Christ has bought for her through his precious blood, she would have asked God to help her to forgive.

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

(Romans 3:20)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

(Romans 3:23-25)

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

(Matthew 6:14-15)

·         Forgiveness is not so much of a ‘forgiving’ emotion but it is a conscious decision made by the offended to release the offence of the offender.

·         We may not ‘feel’ like forgiving those who have hurt us but we can make the conscious effort to pray for God to help us to forgive.

·         Have you received God’s forgiveness for your sins or are you still rejecting him as your Saviour? Are there people in your life whom you resent and cannot forgive? Why don’t you take this opportunity to quiet your heart, look to the cross where Jesus’ blood flowed down and say to him: ‘Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for an unworthy sinner like me. You know of the people I am still holding captive within the prison of unforgiveness. I pray that you will enable me to release the offence and hurt that they have inflicted on me. Amen.’

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:32)