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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