THE BEGGAR AND THE STAR

SATURDAY MY SWEET HUBBY AND I MADE OUR EVERY OTHER DAY

TRIP TO HENNESSEY TO SEE OUR BUTTERFLY'S RESTING PLACE.

I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE LOVE SHE HAD TO GIVE TO SO MANY

PEOPLE. I CRIED FOR ALL THE THINGS SHE NEVER WAS ABLE TO

DO IN HER YOUNG LIFE AND I WAS SO HAPPY FOR ALL THE THINGS

SHE WAS ABLE TO DO.

REALITY HIT ME. IT WAS LIKE WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY HEART

SHATTERED AND FELL PIECE BY PIECE UPON THE FRESH DIRT.

I HAD THE URGE TO RUN BUT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN

UGLY SITE......SAGGY BOOBS SLAPPING MY EARS AND MY BUTT

TRYING TO PASS ME.....LOL

I DECIDED ON A LESS TAXING ADVENTURE.

MY HUBBY AND I WENT TO A THRIFT SHOP.

I LOVE DIGGING THROUGH THE BOOKS AND ART.

I FOUND SOME AWESOME BOOKS.

ONE IS CALLED:

A COUNTRY SAMPLER

OF SIMPLE BLESSINGS.

A COLLECTION OF

HOMESPUN STORIES

AND PAINTINGS CELEBRATING

THE EVERYDAY MOMENTS OF LIFE

BY~ELLEN STOUFFER

WITH PEG CARMACK SHORT

BELOW I HAVE INCLUDED ONE OF THE STORIES

FROM HER DELIGHTFUL BOOK

IN THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE STORY AS MUCH AS I DID.

MY HUSBAND SCANNED THE TWO PICTURES FROM THE BOOK

AND I ADDED A PICTURE OF A LITTLE GIRL THAT CAME TO

MY MIND AS I WAS READING THE STORY

GO GET YOURSELF A CUP OF TEA AND EMBRACE THE SEASON

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE,

GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

LUKE 2:14

I HAVE GONE THERE OFTEN IN MEMORY----THE ROOM

SHIMMERING IN THE GLOW OF FLICKERING CANDLES

AND TWINKLING CHRISTMAS-TREE LIGHTS, HUSHED

AND STILL.

MY MOTHER SITS IN THE CENTER OF A CIRCLE OF WOMEN,

MEMBERS OF HER SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WHO HAVE

GATHERED AT OUR HOUSE THIS EVENING FOR THEIR

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY. WITH HER SWEET SMILE AND

STRAWBERRY-BLOND CURLS, MOTHER LOOKS LIKE AN ANGEL

TO ME. EVEN AS YOUNG AS I AM, I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A

POWER IN HER PRESENCE AS SHE SPEAKS. HER VOICE STARTS

OFF SOFTLY AS SHE BEGINS TO RECITE AN OLD POEM,

"THE BEGGAR AND THE STAR",

BY VIVIAN LARAMORE RADER.

There came to my door a beggar,

In the dim December light,

To ask for a crust and a corner

Where he might stay for the night.

My house was already crowded

My food, a meager store;

So I said, "I'm very sorry,

But you'll have to ask next door."

MOTHER'S VOICE RISES AND FALLS DRAMATICALLY.

SHE GREW UP MEMORIZING POEMS, AND HER RECITATIONS

ARE AN EXPECTED AND LOVED PART OF OUR FAMILY LIFE.

I'VE INHERITED HER PASSION FOR BEAUTIFUL WORDS AND

SPELLBINDING IMAGERY. AS I LISTENED TO THE POEM, I

CAN'T IMAGINE MY MOTHER TURNING AWAY ANYONE WHO

WAS NEEDY. "IT'S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE,"

SHE OFTEN REMINDS MY SISTER AND ME.

MOTHER BELIEVES DEEPLY IN THE GIVING OF CHRISTMAS. ONE

HAS ONLY TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM TO SEE SHE HAS TAKEN

GREAT CARE TO MAKE EVERYTHING PERFECT FOR HER GUESTS

TONIGHT. FOR WEEKS SHE HAS POLISHED AND CLEANED, COOKED

AND BAKED, AND SPENT MANY HOURS PREPARING LITTLE GIFTS

FOR EACH GUEST. THEY WILL DINE ON FINE CHINA, EAT WITH

GLEAMING SILVER, AND DRINK FROM CRYSTAL GOBLETS.

WE ARE NOT A WEALTHY FAMILY, BUT MY MOTHER EXTENDS

THE BEST SHE HAS TO VISITORS.

MY THOUGHTS RETURN TO THE POEM, AS THE NARRATOR

CONTINUES TALKING TO THE BEGGAR AT HER DOOR:

". . . I can bring you tea I've

been saving

For a special guest."

He looked at me for a moment,

"Not dressed as I am dressed?"

"Oh, no," I said, "to be honest,

I've never liked beggars much,

They've always seemed unworthy,

Unclean in thought and touch."

THE WORDS REMIND ME OF THE SUNDAY WE WENT TO

ST. LOUIS AND MET A BEGGAR ON THE STREET. HE WAS

ASKING FOR COINS AND SAID HE WAS HUNGRY. INSTEAD OF

GIVING HIM MONEY, MY FATHER INVITED HIM INTO THE

RESTAURANT WHERE WE WERE GOING AND TOLD HIM HE

WOULD PAY FOR HIS MEAL. AS WE ENTERED THE RESTAURANT

IN OUR CHURCH FINERY, ACCOMPANIED BY A DIRTY, RAGGED

BEGGAR, SOME PEOPLE LOOKED AT US CURIOUSLY. OTHERS

EYED US WITH CONTEMPT. BUT MY DAD TREATED THE BEGGAR

WITH POLITENESS AND RESPECT, AND DADDY'S DEMEANOR

CONVEYED TO THE RESTAURANT STAFF THAT THEY WERE TO

DO THE SAME. THE BEGGAR DECLINED TO SIT WITH US,

CHOOSING INSTEAD A BACK CORNER TABLE WHERE HE CONSUMED

HUGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD. WHEN HE HAD EATEN, HE NODDED

QUICKLY TO MY DAD AS HE STARTED TO LEAVE. BUT DADDY

WALKED OVER AND EXTENDED HIS HAND TO THE MAN.

THE BEGGAR TOOK IT WITH HIS RIGHT HAND AND COVERED

IT IN A WARM CLASP WITH HIS LEFT. THEN HE SEEMED TO GROW

TALLER, STRAIGHTENING HIS BACK, AS HE WALKED FROM THE

RESTAURANT WITH GREAT DIGNITY.

And I saw that his rags were glowing

Like garments of finest gold,

and his face was young as tomorrow,

Though I knew that the man was old . . .

And I thought of the homeless thousands

Who trudge the world today,

And I said, "Forgive me, Master,

I'm begging you to stay."

BY THE TIME MOTHER REACHES THIS POINT IN THE

POEM, IT IS OBVIOUS TO THE WOMEN FROM HER SUNDAY

SCHOOL CLASS, AND TO ME, THAT THIS POEM IS AN ALLEGORY--

THE BEGGAR REPRESENTS CHRIST, AND THE NARRATOR REPRESENTS

THE WORLD THAT HAS NO ROOM FOR HIM IN ITS HEART. THE

POEM IS MOTHER'S WAY OF REMINDING US THAT THE TRUE

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IS LOVE.

THAT POEM MOVED ME DEEPLY AS A CHILD, BUT IT WASN'T

UNTIL I WAS AN ADULT THAT THE MESSAGE OF THE POEM

CAME TO LIFE FOR ME. IN ADDITION TO MANAGING A HOME

AND RAISING THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, I HAD RECENTLY

RETURNED TO WORK. THAT YEAR THE THOUGHT OF THE

APPROACHING HOLIDAYS FILLED ME WITH DREAD INSTEAD

OF MY USUAL JOY. ALL I COULD THINK OF WERE THE EXTRAS

THE SEASON SEEMED TO CALL FOR----SPENDING MONEY, SHOPPING,

BAKING, WRITING CARDS, AND DECORATING. I COULDN'T SEE

HOW I WAS GOING TO GET EVERY THING DONE IN TIME---

IT FELT AS IF THE ONLY VERSE OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY

I COULD RELATE TO WAS, "AND THEY CAME WITH HASTE. . ."

I NEITHER NOTICED NOR THOUGHT ABOUT THE "homeless

thousands." I RESENTED THE BELL RINGERS ON STREET CORNERS

AND THE CHARITABLE REQUESTS THAT CROWDED MY MAILBOX---

THEY ONLY ADDED TO THE PRESSURE I ALREADY FELT.

THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, MOTHER CALLED TO ASK FOR

MY HELP. SHE'D JUST HEARD OF A FAMILY WHO'D LOST EVERY-

THING IN A HOUSE FIRE. THE HOUSEHOLD INCLUDED A FATHER

AND TWO LITTLE GIRLS. ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION

MOTHER HAD, THE MOTHER OF THIS FAMILY HAD DIED

EARLIER THAT YEAR FROM CANCER.

MOTHER SAID SHE COULD BUY THE GROCERIES, BUT SHE

WONDERED IF I WOULD SHOP FOR THE LITTLE GIRLS. I WAS

SO FAR BEHIND WITH MY OWN SHOPPING AND PREPARATION,

THAT I REALLY WANTED TO SAY I WAS MUCH TOO BUSY, BUT

I JUST COULDN'T SAY NO TO HER. THEN SHE ASKED IF I WOULD

HELP HER WRAP AND DELIVER THESE GIFTS OF THE MORNING

OF CHRISTMAS EVE. GRUDGINGLY, I AGREED.

WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE FAMILY'S APARTMENT THAT

MORNING, IT WAS SMALL AND DREARY, AND THE FATHER

SEEMED LISTLESS AND SAD. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE

HOLIDAY----NOT EVEN A TINY TREE. ONE OF THE CHILDREN

WAS JUST A BABY, AND THE OTHER LITTLE GIRL, WHOSE

NAME WAS ALICE, WAS FIVE.

AS SOON AS I SAW HER, I REGRETTED MY HASTY SHOPPING.

SHE WELCOMED US WITH A SWEET SMILE, AND HER EYES WERE

WIDE WITH EXCITEMENT AS SHE NOTICED THE GIFT-WRAPPED PRESENTS ALONG

WITH THE BASKET OF FOOD.

"DID YOU BRING SOMETHING FOR MY SISTER?" SHE ASKED ME.

"YES," I TOLD HER. "AND SOMETHING FOR YOU TOO."

"WHAT ABOUT MY DADDY?" SHE WHISPERED. "MOMMY ALWAYS TOOK

ME TO BUY A PRESENT FOR HIM. BUT SHE'S UP IN HEAVEN NOW WITH

THE ANGELS."

I WAS EMBARRASSED, AS I'D ONLY BOUGHT GIFTS FOR THE CHILDREN.

"I'M SORRY SWEETHEART," I SAID. "I DON'T HAVE A PRESENT FOR YOUR

DADDY OTHER THAN THE BASKET OF FOOD."

SHE CONSIDERED THAT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN ASKED, "DO

YOU THINK MAYBE YOU COULD TAKE BACK MY GIFT AND GET SOME-

THING FOR DADDY? HE'S BEEN AWFULLY SAD WITH MOMMY GONE,

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM SMILE."

IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP MY TEARS FROM FALLING AS I

PROMISED I'D BE BACK WITH A GIFT FOR HER DAD. MOTHER DIDN'T

EVEN QUESTION ME WHEN I ASKED IF SHE HAD TIME TO GO WITH ME

TO THE LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER.

NOT ONLY DID WE BUY ALICE'S FATHER THE WARM GLOVES SHE

HAD REQUESTED FOR HIM, BUT ALSO A SCARF AND A CAP. I

PICKED UP SEVERAL MORE SURPRISES FOR THE CHILDREN.

THEN I ASKED MOTHER WHAT SHE THOUGHT ABOUT BUYING A LITTLE

TREE. WE PRAYED WE WEREN'T PRESUMING TOO MUCH, THEN WENT

AHEAD AND BOUGHT THE TREE, LIGHTS, AND ORNAMENTS TO

DECORATE IT.

INSTEAD OF RESENTING OUR SECOND INTRUSION, THE FATHER CRIED

WHEN HE SAW THE CHRISTMAS TREE. "I WANTED TO GET ONE," HE SAID.

"BUT WITH ALL THE THINGS WE NEEDED AFTER THE FIRE . . . HIS VOICE

TRAILED OFF.

THAT AFTERNOON, MOTHER AND I PUT ASIDE OUR OWN HOLIDAY

PREPARATIONS AS WE HELPED THE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DAD DECORATE

THEIR TREE. AS WE WORKED, WE SANG CHRISTMAS CAROLS. AFTER WE

FINISHED THE TREE, MOTHER HAD A CUP OF TEA AND CHATTED WITH

ALICE'S FATHER WHILE ALICE AND I SLIPPED OFF TO HER BEDROOM TO

WRAP HER GIFTS AND MAKE A CARD FOR HER DAD.

WHEN WE LEFT THAT DAY, I TURNED BACK TO SEE ALICE LOOKING

UP AT HER DAD AND HIM SMILING DOWN AT HER. THEN I LOOKED

AT MOTHER, WHO WAS SMILING AND WATCHING ME. SUDDENLY I

FELT AS IF A HUGE WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED FROM MY CHEST, AND

FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT CHRISTMAS SEASON, I HAD A HAPPY

HEART.

And I felt a soaring gladness

No language can impart,

For Love itself lay cradled

In the manger of my heart.

And a thousand bells were ringing

From a thousand towers tall

Glory to God in the highest!

And peace be unto all.

DOESN'T THAT STORY JUST MELT YOUR CHOCOLATE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING A STORY WITH ME FROM MY NEW BOOK.

THE PRICE OF THAT JOY WAS BOUGHT FOR .75 CENTS AND IT IS A

HARD BACK BOOK.

I PRAY EVERYONE OF YOU HAVE A WARM AND FUZZY DAY.

SO VERY MANY PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF PRAYER. I PRAY ESPECIALLY

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LOYAL TO FOLLOW MY BLOG AND HAVE

BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT ME AND MY FAMILY THROUGH THIS VERY

DIFFICULT TIME. YOU ARE SO PRECIOUS AND DEAR TO ME.

BLESSINGS

MAY WE ALL REMEMBER THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

THIS YEAR AND KEEP JESUS THE HEAD OF IT.


ANGEL HUGS