The Fitting Room

Their newborn baby girl was tinier than the others. Her parents prayed for her as she struggled to survive, in spite of the doctors' grim diagnosis - a 50-50 chance they would get to take her home from the hospital.

But tiny little Allison had lots of fight in her. And slowly she grew, although not the same as other boys and girls. Frequent trips to the children's hospital, battling a myriad of disorders and diseases, Allison's strength grew from her determination.

Suppose a person faced with such trials could go either way; the way of bitterness, denying our Creator, or total faith. Allison chose faith.

Her small size - four feet in height, but shorter because of a humped back - wouldn't steal her spirit, her tenacity, her bright and cheerful light. Neither would all of the physical ailments that continued to send her back to the hospital frequently.

She was hired by a retail store to work in the fitting room, where she continued to spread her contagious joy. The fitting room - the place where Allison would help customers find just the right fit, the right look, the right attire suited uniquely to them. The fitting room - where people came to try on clothes, willing to sacrifice hard earned money for the perfect thing to wear.

Heading up fund drives for the Children's Miracle Network and the local children's hospital, Allison raised awareness and money and told everyone of the wonderful work being done to help people like her. She also told everyone of how God loved her, and He loved them too.

The job in the fitting room led to meeting a David, a co-worker, a wonderfully loving man who soon took Allison's hand in marriage, through sickness and in health.

By their fifth year of marriage the times of sickness began to be more than the times of health until one day Allison suffered a stroke and major heart attack at once. She had already had a heart transplant and had conquered so many previous bouts with various diseases, but this time would be different.

At the age of 31, Allison made her move to Heaven.

Her family grieves at the parting but Allison has gone on to the Fitting Room; the Heavenly Fitting Room, that is. Jesus has placed a crown on her - a perfectly fitted crown, just the right size, shape, and color, uniquely suited to her. The crown fits because she was willing to wear the faith.