My Little Matryoshka Doll

I've had this sweet little "Matryoshka Doll", or Russian Nesting Doll, sitting on a bookshelf for quite a few years. It was a gift from some people who were members of the church where I used to work before I retired.  They had taken a trip to Russia and surrounding areas, and brought back this souvenir for me from their journey. I was thrilled to receive it, but I didn't fully appreciate the meaning of it or its uniqueness until now.  All I knew was that it was a "Russian Nesting Doll".

For more information on how these dolls are made, you can click on this link for the history:  Matryoshka Doll, or Russian Nesting Doll

Now, with the terrible conflict that is going on in Ukraine at the hands of the Russian dictator Putin, my heart has been so broken as I watch the thousands of Ukrainian women and children trying to escape from their cities to get to a safe place.  Their husbands and menfolk are mostly staying behind to protect their country and fight for their freedom.  Many of these women and children may never see their men again alive. And it's not only the Ukrainian women who are losing their menfolk. So are the Russian women. Many of them do not even realize what is happening and why the men have gone off to fight in Ukraine. Many of the Russian people are shocked and angry when they realize what is really happening.

And so, without going into the political issues that surround all of this horrific conflict, my heart is breaking for the women and children of both countries. And this little doll has become the reminder to me to pray for them.

If you are not familiar with how this little doll is made, let me show you mine:

When you open up the doll, also known as "The Little Matron", or a "Babushka Doll", you will discover another smaller doll inside!

Ah, but when you open that doll, there is another! 

And, guess what?  When you open the third doll, yes, you guessed it, there is another one!

Oh, but you mustn't stop there, like I did when I first got this doll!  I didn't realize that the fourth doll also opened up. It wasn't until much later when I was looking at her more closely that I noticed that she was also supposed to be opened!  And guess what I found inside her?

Yes, a tiny baby doll!

As I look at this little family of the Mother and her children, I pray for these dear sisters around the world who are suffering so today. Sadly, even some of the children and mothers have been killed in this tragic, senseless war.  I am happy to see that surrounding countries are welcoming these families into their homes, even though they are strangers from a foreign country.  They are literally taking them inside their homes and giving them clothes to wear and food to eat and a bed to sleep in.

This reminds me of the story in the Bible we read this morning in our devotions. I am sure it is familiar to many of us. But what a perfect example we are seeing take place today.  Here is the story:

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Some real "food for thought", isn't it? What would I do if they came to my door?  I pray I would be as kind as those who are opening their doors and rescuing these poor women and children today.

In my research to learn more about these dolls, I came across a link to this little book.

The Littlest Matryoshka Book

"Here is a Sweet and fun introduction to Russian nesting dolls"   and what appears to be a very lovely story.

By Thriftbooks.com User, April 30, 2004

"Although the set of coincidences leading to the happy ending is far-fetched enough to raise a toddler's eyebrows, this sweet story extolling the sisterhood bond is a favorite in our home. The matryoshkas, or nesting dolls, have human emotions. They grieve the loss of their littlest sister, the center doll carved from the heart of the wood. Yet their inability to behave as people do leaves them helpless. "They could not lift their painted arms to reach out..." After the littlest matryoshka is reunited with them, the young girl who owns the dolls places them in a circle so that each can look at her sisters' faces and rejoice.

 Only then do the dolls' painted smiles really mean something. Each of the dolls is given a name. Several times throughout the story, their stacking order is chanted. "Nina inside Nadia, and Nadia inside Vanda," and so on. This repetition helps make the story a fun read-aloud book for young children. Kathryn Brown's watercolor illustrations are not only cute, they also teach the reader something about matryoshka costuming. When we first meet the toy maker crafting the matryoshka set, each doll's outfit is being decorated slightly more elaborately than the previously painted doll. Similarly, their faces are drawn with progressively more detail. Though the difference between any two consecutive dolls is hardly remarkable, the cumulative effect of adding increasingly more decorations is apparent when they are lined up next to each other. Reading this book just once helps the novice gain new appreciation for the subtleties involved with this old Russian folk art tradition. In summary, this is a delightful book that will be appreciated by children and adults alike."

My little friend Lily Grace said that she would love to play with these little nesting dolls, and she wanted to dress up like a "Matryoshka Doll" too.  So here she is with her "Babushka" on.  She wanted me to remind you all to keep praying for these people in Ukraine, and yes, even the people in Russia.

Matthew 5:43-48 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

These are certainly some things for us to think about and pray about during this season of Lent. Amen?

May the Lord bless you and yours, and may He keep our families safe.  And Pray for Peace in Ukraine.