The Twenty-Four Days of Christmas - December 11th

December 11th

Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my Father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews - even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Saviour of the world. 1 Nephi 10:4

Carol: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Pattern of Love

by Jack Smith55

I didn't question Timmy, age nine, or his seven-year old brother Billy, whose father was out of work. After giving them the allotted $4 each, we began out trip. At different stores I made suggestions, but always their answer was a solemn shake of the head, no. Finally, I asked, "Where would you suggest we look?"

"Could we go to the shoe store, Sir?" answered Timmy. "We'd like a pair of shoes for out Daddy so he can go to work."

In the shoe store the clerk asked what the boys wanted. Out came the brown paper. "We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot," they said.

Billy explained that it was a pattern of their Daddy's foot. They had drawn it while he was asleep in a chair. 

The clerk held the paper against a measuring stick then walked away. Soon he came with an open box. "Will these do?" he asked.

Timmy and Billy handled the shoes with great eagerness. "How much do they cost?" asked Billy.

Then Timmy saw the price on the box. "They're $16.95," he said in dismay. "We only have $8."

I looked at the clerk and he cleared his throat. "That's regular price," he said, "but they're on sale; $3.98, today only."

Then with shoes happily in hand, the boys bought gifts for their mother and two little sisters, not once did they think of themselves.

The day after Christmas the boy's father stopped me on the street. The new shoes were on his feet, gratitude was in his eyes. "I just thank Jesus for people who care," he said.

"And I thank Jesus for your two sons," I replied. "They taught me more about Christmas in one evening than I had learned in a lifetime."