|
  
CHRISTMAS IN
THE HEART
A Story For
My Grandchildren
There once was a little boy who loved his mother so very
much he felt he would surely
die if he were ever separated from her side. He was
constantly in her presence. His father had left when his
mother discovered she was going to have a baby, so she was
the only parent he had ever known. He was her only child and
she loved him with all her heart.
One cold winter night, there was a knock at their little
cabin door. It was one of the neighbors that lived a long
distance down the hillside. The man asked if the lady would
please come and help tend to his sick wife as they had five
children at home that he was taking care of. The temperature
was below freezing outside and the little boy??™s mother
didn??™t want her own small frail son to become ill from the
cold. She knew she must leave him home alone if she agreed
to go care for the man??™s ailing wife. Knowing how afraid her
son would be if left alone; she turned, and kneeling down,
questioned him as what she should do. The little boy looked
frightened as he sensed what was expected of him, yet it
meant sheer terror for him to be in the cabin without his
mother being within site. He also understood how much his
own precious mother meant to him and would not want his
neighbors??™ sickly mother to die. With large tears rolling
down his face, he reached up as high as he could and placed
his arms around his mother??™s neck, holding onto her with all
his strength. He couldn??™t let her go, COULD HE? What if
something happened
while his mother was gone? Sometimes wild animals would come around
the cabin at night, knocking things over outside and howling
loudly, not far from his bedroom window.
He thought about what his mother had taught him about Jesus. What
did she often say to reassure him? OH YES, HE REMEMBERED!
She said no matter where he was, Jesus had sent down the
Holy Spirit to be his loyal companion and that he was NEVER
really alone. Now, he knew in his heart that this was the
RIGHT THING TO DO! Yes, he would offer his mother freely so
she could go tend to the sickly woman who needed her care so
badly. All bundled up and ready to face the cold, the
neighbor
and his mother opened the cabin door to leave, when the man
turned around and called out ???Merry Christmas???. ???Is it
Christmas,??? the little boy asked all surprised? The man
shook his head yes. As the little boy lie shivering from
the cold, alone in his bed that night, he realized
something. He knew they were so poor there was never enough
money to buy each other a Christmas gift, much less, anyone
else. This would be a ???SPECIAL GIFT??? that both he and his
mother could give away! Wow! This made him feel good all
inside. Even though this was the first time he had ever
been away from his mother, he felt peaceful and safe. The
Holy Spirit had spoken to him and said, ???Well done my
child, for because of your sacrifice tonight, you have given
a gift from the heart and truly, this is what Christmas is
all about. Do not worry about your neighbors??™ mother. I
will heal her body because of the kindness you have shown
her family. May you always be comforted by the presence of
your Savior, no matter where you are???. With those
comforting words spoken to his heart, the little boy drifted
off into a deep sleep.
Upon
retuning home late the next morning, his mother discovered
her small son still sleeping soundly with a big smile of
contentment upon his face. He looked as if he had just
received the best Christmas any child could ever ask for!
It was then she realized that God had sent this gift to her
son, so that, in return, could give it to someone else. Yes,
it was all in God??™s plans. After all, she knew all about
the true meaning of Christmas and now her son would also
know that Christmas comes from within the heart!
wish
all my grandchildren a Merry Christmas. With all my love,
Granny/Nanny Lynne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May you be blessed today.
Bob Johnston
Editor / Publisher
|
