A Christmas Story

A homeless lad walked up the wide avenue looking for a certain house. He finally found what he was looking for. The house had a large picture window with a real Christmas tree to one side. He crept up onto the porch and peered inside. There was the wonderful tree all a glitter with tinsel and lights, and under the tree was a mountain of presents. He looked past the tree where the dining room could be seen through an archway. There sat a family eating Christmas dinner.

The boy felt sad and lonely as he observed the happy family. He was cold too. His clothes were well-worn and his old jacket was too thin to keep out the cold. His shoes had holes in the soles and the wetness from the snow had seeped in and gotten his feet wet.

The father happened to look toward the window and saw the little sad face. As he got up and walked toward the door, the lad turned and ran down the front steps but slipped on the last one and fell face down in the snow. The father hurried down and helped him up. "Did you want something, young man."

"No, sir, I didn't mean any harm. I was just looking at your pretty Christmas tree."

The father observed the boy's ragged clothing and thin frame. "What's your name, son?"

"Billy, sir."

"Why don't you come in and have dinner with us, Billy?" asked the father.

"Oh, I'm too grubby," Billy answered as he wiped the snow from his face with his sleeve, hoping it would remove some of the grime.

"That's OK. You can wash up in there in the bathroom. I have a son about your age, and we can find you some clean, warm clothes too."

Billy's face lit up a bit, "Well, I would be glad to work for my dinner. I can shovel the snow off your sidewalks and driveway."

The father stooped down and looked at Billy face to face. "Billy, you are fine. You don't have to work for your dinner. Come on in and join our family. We will help you with anything you need. There just happens to be a couple of extra presents under the tree too. Will you come in and join us?"

** * * *

Friend, are you standing out in the cold? Do you know the Heavenly Father is asking you to come and join His family? You don't have to try to clean up your life: you don't have to do a thing. He does it all and has everything you need. Will you come?

*****

Scripture References: John 21:12; Luke 14:23; John 6:37;

Revelation 22:17; Isaiah 64: 6a; Ephesians 2:8-9.