"ON SANTA'S TEAM" Tuesday
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
My grandma taught me everything about Christmas. I was
just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike
to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the
bomb:
"There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies
know that!"
My grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I
fled to her that day because I knew she would be
straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the
truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a
whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her
world-famous cinnamon buns.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm.
Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready
for me.
"No Santa Claus!" she snorted."Ridiculous! Don't
believe it. That rumor has been going around for
years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on
your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even
finished my second cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the
one store in town that had a little bit of just about
everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma
handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those
days.
"Take this money," she said, "and buy something for
someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car."
Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping
with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything
all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full
of people scrambling to finish their Christmas
shopping. For a few moments I just stood there,
confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering
what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought
of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my
neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to
my church.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought
of Bobbie Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and
messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.
Pollock's grade-two class. Bobbie Decker didn't have a
coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess
during the winter. His mother always wrote a note,
telling the teacher that he had a cough; but all we
kids knew that Bobbie Decker didn't have a cough, and
he didn't have a coat.
I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing
excitement. I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat. I
settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.
It looked real warm, and he would like that. I didn't
see a price tag, but ten dollars ought to buy
anything. I put the coat and my ten-dollar bill on the
counter and pushed them toward the lady behind it.
She looked at the coat, the money, and me. "Is this a
Christmas present for someone?" she asked kindly.
"Yes," I replied shyly. "It's ... for Bobbie. He's in
my class, and he doesn't have a coat." The nice lady
smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the
coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in
Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie,
From Santa Claus" on it ... Grandma said that Santa
always insisted on secrecy.
Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker's house,
explaining as we went that I was now and forever
officially one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down
the street from Bobbie's house, and she and I crept
noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.
Suddenly, Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa
Claus," she whispered, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw
the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell
twice and flew back to the safety of the bushes and
Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the
darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did,
and there stood Bobbie. He looked down, looked around,
picked up his present, took it inside and closed the
door.
Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments
spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker's
bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors
about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they
were: Ridiculous!
Santa was alive and well ... AND WE WERE ON HIS TEAM!
Author Unknown
************************
GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES;
THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NOR SORROW, NOR
CRYING. THERE SHALL BE NO MORE PAIN, FOR THE
FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.
( REVELATION 21:4 *NKJV )
If you are suffering from the loss of a loved
one this Christmas, the
following message is for you. Also if you are not
suffering from that loss,
but know of someone who is, why not forward this
message to them. For it
has ministered to many over the past few years! It
is called:
"My First Christmas In
Heaven"
I see the countless Christmas trees around the
world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting
on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the
tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ
this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold
so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the
Christmas
choir up here. I have no words to tell you, the
joy their voices
bring. For it is beyond description, to hear the
angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain
inside your heart
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold
you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus
Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly
home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure
gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus
told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father
said to do.
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for
each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus
Christ this year.
Author Unknown
************************
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
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