My Dear, Dear Friend

Franz Kafka (a prolific Bohemian novelist who combined realism with the fantastic), who never married and had no children, was walking through the park one day in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favorite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.

Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would continue their search. The next day, Kafka gave the girl a letter “written” by the doll saying, “Please don’t cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures.”

Thus began a story which continued until Kafka became terminally ill with tuberculosis.

During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written about adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.

Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.

“It doesn’t look like my doll at all,” said the girl.

Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: “my travels have changed me.” The little girl hugged the new doll and brought the doll with her to their happy home.

Three months later Kafka died.

Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it said:

“Everything you love will probably be lost,

but in the end, love will return in another way.” 

Change will happen. One can shift pain into wonder and love, but it is up to each of us to create that connection consciously and intentionally.

(Shared by Nancy Borino)

See you in church!