Word
John 1:heading, 1–3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The
same was in the beginning with God.
3 All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made.
Story: Christmas Loaves and Fishes
Christmas Loaves and Fishes
By Raynier Maharaj Toronto, Canada
On Christmas Eve in homes everywhere there is quiet
excitement. The festive feeling and the warmth of having family members near
brings to mind a Christmas tale I love to relate each year. It's a true story,
even though it might sound unbelievable. And it's proof that miracles do
happen.
A long time ago there was a group of young people who
decided to spread some Christmas cheer. They had discovered that there were
several children who would be spending the festive holiday in a community
hospital nearby. So one of the friends dressed as Santa Claus, they bought
nice presents, wrapped them, and armed with guitars and sweet voices, they
dropped in unexpectedly at the hospital on Christmas Eve.
The children were overjoyed at seeing Santa, and by the time
the group was finished handing out presents and singing Christmas carols,
there were tears in everyone's eyes. From then on, it was decided they would
play Santa every year.
The following Christmas Eve, other patients at the hospital
were included in the rounds, and by the third year the celebration was
expanded to embrace some of the poor children in the neighborhood.
On the fourth Christmas Eve, however, after all the rounds
were made, Santa Claus looked into his bag and discovered there were a few
extra toys left. So the friends mulled it over, trying to figure out what to do
with them. Somebody mentioned that there were a few squatters' shacks nearby in
which a couple of desperately poor families lived.
So the group decided to go there, thinking that there were
perhaps three families at most. But as they drove over the crest of the hill
into this lonely area—it was around midnight now—the shocked group saw a large
number of people standing at the side of the street.
Much to their surprise, they were children— more than 30 of
them. Behind them were not three shacks but rows and rows of shabby squatters'
dwellings. As the cars drew to a stop, the children came running up, shouting
with joy. It turned out they had been waiting patiently all night for Santa
Claus. Somebody—no one could remember who—had told them he was coming, although
our Santa had decided to go there only moments before.
Everyone was stunned, except for Santa. He was in a panic.
He knew he didn't have enough toys for all these kids. Eventually, however, not
wanting to disappoint the children, he decided to give whatever toys he had
only to the youngest, smallest children. When the presents ran out, he'd just
have to explain to the bigger kids what had happened.
So moments later he found himself perched on top of a car's
hood as these 30 or more sparkling clean children, dressed in their best
clothes, lined up in order of height, with the smallest first, for their moment
with him. As each anxious child approached, Santa dipped into his bag, his
heart heavy with dread, hoping to find at least one more toy. And by some
miracle, he found one each time he dipped. And as the last of the children
received a present, Santa looked into the now deflated bag. It was empty—empty
as it should have been 24 children ago.
With a sigh of relief, he let out a hearty
"ho-ho-ho" and bade the kids farewell. But as he was about to enter
one of the cars (the reindeer, apparently, had the day off), he heard a child
scream: "Santa! Santa! Wait!" And out of the bushes rushed two
little children, a boy and a girl. They had been asleep.
Santa's heart sank. This time he knew for sure he had no
more toys. The bag was empty. He had seen it himself. But as the out-of-breath
kids approached, he summoned up some extra courage and dipped into the bag one
more time. And—lo and behold— there were indeed two more presents in the bag.
That group of friends, now all grown adults, still talk
about this miracle on Christmas morning. They still have no explanation for
it, other than the fact that it happened. How do I know so much about this?
Well, I was the one playing Santa.
Family Circle
12/16/97
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