Monday, December 13, 2010

I receive Guidepost over my computer, wanted to share this short story.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

A little boy who didn’t believe in Christmas? I had to do something...the angels helped me.
By Gerry Steinbock Parmet, Prescott, Arizona

"Baking Christmas cookies!” “Our big tree!” “My favorite part of Christmas is the presents!” My first-graders and I were discussing what we liked most about the holidays. “How about you, Bradley?” I asked. He hadn’t said a word. Bradley just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t believe in Santa Claus and I don’t believe in Christmas.”

The room went quiet. I didn’t know what to say. I’d never heard anything so sad. And I’d only made it worse by putting him on the spot.

While the children packed up their desks for Christmas break, Bradley’s comment hung in my mind.

What would make a little boy give up on Christmas? I knew Bradley lived in a rough part of town. His single mother worked to try to make ends meet. As the “man of the house” Bradley had to take on many adult responsibilities, including caring for his younger brother. He often seemed tired—too tired for a first-grader. Somewhere along the way Bradley stopped believing that Christmas was for boys like him.FEATURED PRO
I sent the children home to get on with their celebrations and watched Bradley leave the room. Lord, won’t you do something special for his Christmas this year?

The next day I still couldn’t get Bradley off my mind. I phoned my friend Lucille, who was president of the PTA. If there was anyone who’d understand, it was her.
“We can’t fix everything,” Lucille said. “But we can do something.”

Even for a little boy like Bradley? I wondered. He stayed in my prayers the rest of the break.

School resumed the Monday after New Year’s. One by one, I asked the kids about their Christmas. I skipped Bradley. Why add insult to injury?

“You skipped me!” he shouted.

“Well, I know you don’t believe in Christmas,” I said.

“Now I do!” he said. “We came home after grocery shopping and found a huge wreath on our door. I thought we were at the wrong apartment, but it was my door. And when I opened it, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Santa had been there! He put up a tree that touched the ceiling. With presents!” Bradley jumped up and spread his arms wide: “He left a card that said Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And he signed his name.” The kids cheered.

At the end of the school day, I ran into Lucille in the hallway. “Bradley had quite an exciting Christmas. I thought you might have had something to do with it.”
“What makes you think it wasn’t Santa himself?” she asked.
“I have a feeling it was an angel.”

Lucille grinned. She and the PTA had turned Bradley’s modest apartment into a Christmas wonderland. Bradley saw that the magic of Christmas belongs to every child, thanks to that child who was born in a manger, bringing hope to the whole world.  

8 comments:

Arkansas Patti said...

A lovely eye dampening, throat lumping post. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Very nice post, Patty.

Lady Di Tn said...

The kindness of strangers sometimes provide the magic of Christmas. Good story and appreciate you sharing it with us. Peace

Beth Niquette said...

Oh, wow...makes me feel there's hope for humanity after all. Thank you for sharing this sweet story.

Helen said...

Great story Patty. Thanks for sharing it with us. Helen

Margaret Cloud said...

A wonderful Christmas is a good story.

Reader Wil said...

What a beautiful story, Patty! I hope he got this kind of Christmas every year after this one! Wouldn't that be lovely to repeat this over and over again for all children!

Merle said...

Dear Patty ~~ Lovely story and I have caught up on your latest posts
Thank you for sharing them with us.
Like you, I am getting slower and slower and find it hard to keep up.
Thank you so much for the great fwds you send me. I loved the Uluru one.
We have a song that says, "It's raining on the Rock, What an incredible sight to see." And it was surely that. I also liked the Black Hole. Glad you liked the items in my last post.
Do you have to keep taking the Femara tablets? I hope Abe's tests went well. Sorry it is so cold and snowy for you. I am doing
OK. Take great care dear friend,
Love, Merle.