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b'Elle\\u2019s dragon, Thon, had run away many times. But never before had he been missing for more than one rotation of the two moons. Elle had hand fed him from his hatching, taught him to fly, nursed him through dragon pox. Loved him. Elle sat up on her bed. The annual dragon market was today at the junkyard for old time machines. Perhaps Thon would be there. She must hurry.\\n\\n\\n\\nAt the auction, she saw him almost at once. Shoulders slumped. A tear in one eye. Her telepathic device was only fourth generation, but it sensed Thon\\u2019s despair. \\u201cThon!\\u201d she called. He turned his mighty head. If only she could explain her circumstances to the auctioneer before he started the bidding! But she was too late. She was only halfway up the aisle when the first bid rang out. More than she could possibly earn in a lifetime. She shouted out a higher number anyway. Outbid again. Still, she went higher. \\u201c450,000 drachs!\\u201d An astronomical sum. The other bidder stayed silent.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cSold!\\u201d The auctioneer pointed toward Elle. She made her way to the platform, then whispered, \\u201cI don\\u2019t have the money, but I had to stop the bidding. That\\u2019s my dragon. I raised him from his hatching. Ask him.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\nThe auctioneer sneered. \\u201cThis is an auction, not a reunion site. Soldiers, take her away.\\u201d Thon bellowed. An agonizing sound. Elle shouted, \\u201cAuction me then. I am worth 450,000 drachs.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\nThe auctioneer bent down. \\u201cWhy would you do that? Nobody has ever given themselves for the purchase of another. Not in the history of the world.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cMaybe not in the history of this age,\\u201d Elle said softly. \\u201cBut I have read about another time when a being\\u2014the God man\\u2014gave His life so others might live. He is called Messiah.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cDo you love this dragon so much then?\\u201d the auctioneer asked. Elle nodded, and something in his countenance changed. \\u201cIt is not the custom to withdraw dragons once they are entered in the auction. But I believe he must be yours.\\u201d He banged his gavel. \\u201cGo in peace.\\u201d \\u2022 Carol Raj\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Today\\u2019s allegorical story gives us a glimpse of God\\u2019s sacrificial love for us. We all run away from God, but He paid the highest price to restore us to Himself. The Messiah, Jesus, willingly went to the cross to die because it was the only way to save us. And then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. How can these truths give us hope?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cThere is no greater love than to lay down one\\u2019s life for one\\u2019s friends.\\u201d John 15:13 (NLT)\\xa0\\n\\n\\n\\nREAD: LUKE 15; JOHN 15:13; ROMANS 5:5-11'