Dawn R. Deem Stephens

Corduroy – The Search For a Friend

This story first published in 1968 was one that we all grew up with. I can actually say I remember reading it as a child.  There was something about that little bear wearing clothes that resonated with me as a little girl. The way Lisa rescued him was something I believed I did as a child to the stuffed animals that I owned. I felt I had also rescued them from the store and given them a home.
Today, as I read it again, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to me through it. The connection to Him rescuing me became very evident. Throughout the story, Corduroy is searching for something. On the service it seems to be a button for his overalls. But in reality it is something much bigger. As he sets out to find a button and finds himself going up the escalator he says, “I think I’ve always wanted to climb a mountain.” Then when he reaches the next floor, he thinks he is in a palace. He then says, “I guess I’ve always wanted to live in a palace.” This pattern continues as he sees a bed and says, “I’ve always wanted to sleep in bed.” Clearly though Corduroy is still not happy because the minute he sees the button on the mattress he goes back to the search and tries to pull it off. That’s when the story gets suspenseful, and the night watchman searches and finds Corduroy. It seems Corduroy is right back where he started until the next morning when Lisa shows up and pays for him to take him home. (I know you already see the spiritual connection here – but there’s more)
Once Lisa gets home, we discover she has prepared a place for Corduroy. Corduroy immediately says, “I know I’ve always wanted a home!”  And even at that point Lisa points out to Corduroy that she loves him just the way he is, but wants to make him comfortable and therefore sews a new button on his overalls. It is then Corduroy discovers what it is he really needed all along was a friend. Don’t miss that he says, “I’ve always wanted a friend.” And Lisa’s reply is . . . “Me too!”
If you haven’t picked up the spiritual connection here, let me explain. We are just like this little bear wearing corduroy overalls and waiting for something. We wonder what will come along in our life to make us feel happy. As we experience different things in life, we evaluate them. “I think I’ve always wanted this”. . . Or “I guess I’ve wanted this” – The truth is, we think and talk ourselves into things that we want because we are trying to fill a much bigger need.

And just as Corduroy believed that a button would make him worthy enough to be bought, we try to do things that will make us worthy too. But someone sees us just as we are, incomplete and not “new” looking. -And He has paid for us as well! Lisa used everything she saved in her piggy bank to buy Corduroy.  Jesus died on the cross as payment for us.  (1Peter 1:8) When we accept the payment he has made, we are redeemed and are now owned by our Heavenly Father.  And it just keeps getting better. Christ has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven. (John 14:3) He knows that we want a home there, and more importantly, He knows that what we really want is a friend. Just like Lisa, He wants that from us too. (Romans 5:11)
When I read this story and compared it to what Christ did for me, I was so blessed. I just stared at the illustration on the last page. Lisa hugs Corduroy and Corduroy seems so content. I realized that through all my searching and adventures that I’m only truly content in my Heavenly Father’s arms.
I remember reading the book as a child. But, today I read it as a child of God. I’ll never look at it the same again.

Disclosure: These ideas are that of this blog and teachers using this book, not the author or publisher of the book. To purchase this book through amazon you can click on this widget and help support more Bible Lessons in Children’s Literature

For more Bible Lessons in Children’s Literature click on the links below:

The True Story of The Three Little Pigs

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Seven Blind Mice and the Cure to Our Blindness

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Hungry Christian = New Life

Learning the Bible from Pinocchio -by Debbie Boush

Harry the Dirty Dog: Lost Dog, Lost Son
Where The Wild Things Are

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and a Chance to Pray

Children Who Love Jesus may be at risk of catching: A Bad Case of Stripes

Is Your Mama a Llama? Are you the image of God?

The Paper Bag Princess and The Paper Bag Christian

1. Dawn Stephens Books » Blog Archive » Town Mouse, Country Mouse, Content Mouse Says:
   December 21st, 2009 at 4:13 pm

   [...] Corduroy – The Search For a Friend [...]



2. Dawn Stephens Books » Blog Archive » Two Shoes -Have you surrendered your walk? Says:
   January 25th, 2010 at 11:39 am

   [...] Corduroy – The Search For a Friend [...]

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