In a message dated 12/20/98 8:14:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> >The Gold Slipper
>  >
>  >
>  >It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season
>  >hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking
>  >lot of our local discount store. Inside the store, it was worse.
>  >Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles.
>  >
>  >Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as
>  >my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed they
>  >wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't
>  >buy them anything.
>  >
>  >Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of
>  >items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun.
>  >
>  >Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and
>  >proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it
>  >looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait.
>  >
>  >In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a
>  >younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered
>  >tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans.
>  >
>  >He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The
>  >girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass
>  >of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face.
>  >
>  >She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the
>  >Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed
>  >along, off-key but happily.
>  >
>  >When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully
>  >laced the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were
>  >a treasure.
>  >
>  >The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. The boy
>  >laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets.
>  >He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back,
>  >" he bravely said. "We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow."
>  >
>  >With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus
>  >would have loved these shoes, " she cried.  "Well, we'll go home and
>  >work some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he  said.
>  >
>  >Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in
>  >line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas.
>  >
>  >Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank
>  >you lady."
>  >
>  >"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked.
>  >
>  >The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said
>  >she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus."
>  >
>  >The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven
>  >are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't mommy be beautiful
>  >walking on those streets to match these shoes?"
>  >
>  >My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face.  "Yes" I
>  >answered, "I am sure she will."
>  >
>  >Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the
>  >true spirit of giving."
>  >
>  >Tis the Season!!  Remember that it's better to give than receive so
>  >pass it on.
>
>  --------- End forwarded message ----------
>
It is my wish that you all have the very best Christmas possible.

With a WING
& a PRAYER!

Bonnie
daughter of Jim 77/3