Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (NIV)
7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any
of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted
or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them
whatever they need.
In spite of the fun and laughter, 13 yr. old Frank Wilson
was not happy. It was true, he had rec'd all the presents he wanted, and he
enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose
of exchanging gifts and good wishes..........but Frank was not happy because
this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who during the year,
had been killed by a reckless driver. Frank missed his brother and the close
companion- ship they had together.
He said good-bye to his relatives, and explained to his
parents that he was leaving a little early to see a friend, and from there he
could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his new plaid jacket.
It was his FAVOURITE gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled, and
then headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy Scout troop. Frank
always felt understood by him.
Though rich in wisdom, his leader lived in the Flats, the
section of town where most of the poor lived. His patrol leader did odd jobs to
help support his family. To Frank's disappointment, his friend was not home. As
Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught glimpses of trees and decorations
in many of the small houses. Then, thru one front window, he glimpsed a shabby
room with limp stockings hanging over an empty fireplace.
A woman was seated nearby....weeping. The stockings
reminded him of the way he and his brother had always hung theirs side by side.
The next morning, they would be bursting with presents. A sudden thought struck
Frank--he had not done his "good deed" for the day. Before the
impulse passed, he knocked on the door. "Yes?" the sad voice of a
woman asked. Seeing his sled full of gifts, and assuming he was making a
collection, she said, "I have no food or gifts for you. I have nothing for
my own children."
"That's not why I am here,” Frank replied. “choose whatever presents you would like for
your children from the sled."
"Why, God bless you!" the amazed woman answered
gratefully. She selected some candies, a game, a toy airplane and a puzzle.
When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost protested. Finally, the
stockings were full.
"Won't you tell me your name?" she asked, as
Frank was leaving.
"Just call me the Christmas Scout," he replied.
The visit left Frank touched, and with an unexpected
flicker of joy in his heart. He understood that his sorrow wasn't the only
sorrow in the world. Before he left the Flats, he had given away the rest of
his gifts. His plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy. Now, Frank trudged
toward home, cold and uneasy. How could he explain to his parents that he had
given his presents away?
"Where are your presents, son? asked his father as
Frank entered the house. "I gave them away," he answered in a small
voice.
"The airplane from Aunt Susan? Your new coat from
Grandma? Your flashlight?? We thought you were happy with your gifts."
"I was......very happy," Frank said quietly.
"But, Frank, how could you be so impulsive?"
his mother asked. "How will we explain to the relatives who spent so much
time and gave so much love shopping for you?"
His father was firm. "You made your choice, Frank.
We cannot afford any more presents."
With his brother gone, and his family disappointed in
him, Frank suddenly felt dreadfully alone. He had not expected a reward for his
generosity; for he knew that a good deed always should be its own reward. It
would be tarnished otherwise. So he did not want his gifts back. However, he
wondered if he would ever again recapture joy in his life. He thought he had
this evening....but it had been fleeting. He thought of his brother.....and
sobbed himself to sleep.
The next morning, he came downstairs to find his parents
listening to Christmas music on the radio. Then the announcer spoke:
"Merry Christmas, everyone! The nicest Christmas
story we have this morning comes from the Flats. A crippled boy down there has
a new sled this morning left at his house by an anonymous teenage boy. Another
youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several families report that their
children were made happy last night by gifts from a teenage lad who simply
called himself the 'Christmas Scout'. No one could identify him, but the
children of the Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal
representative of old Santa Claus himself.
Frank felt his father's arms go around his shoulders, and
he saw his mother smiling thru her tears.
"Why didn't you tell us, son? We didn't understand.
We are so proud of you."
The carols came over the air again, filling the room with
music--"Praises sing to God the King, and peace on Earth goodwill to
men."
Dear Lord, as we celebrate Christmas this year help our
eyes be open to those in need around us. Help us be like the “Christmas Scout” And
be a blessing to those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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