A Christmas Story!
Old George’s wife has passed away about eleven years ago and Christmas had come to mean little to him after her death. He owned a gas station on the edge of town and his life had come to revolve around that so much so that he had started taking his meals there and often spent the night in the back room.
It was Christmas eve when an old, shopworn looking homeless man came into his station.
Have you had anything to eat? Asked George. No! I was just looking for a place to warm up for a minute but I see your busy so I’ll just leave!
Your not leaving here before you have a cup of coffee and some of this stew. I made it myself and its quite good. So set down here by the stove and help yourself.
It was about that time when an old beat up fifty three Plymouth pulled into his drive. George could tell there was trouble by the steam coming out from under the hood of the car.
Please mister, can you help us? My wife is going into labor and we have to get to the hospital!
George could tell that the car was not going anywhere as he pulled open the hood to see a possible crack in the block!
This car is in bad shape, said George! Please, Mr. We have to get to the hospital right away!
Well! You’re not going anywhere in this. I have an old truck in the back that you can take. It runs good and has good tires!
Thank you, Mr. the man said as he loaded his wife into the front and took off for the hospital.
George came back into the station to see that the shopworn man had gone, leaving behind an empty coffee cup and an empty plate where the stew had been. George went back out onto the drive where he tried to start the disabled car. It barely cranked over and he drove it into the back service bay of the garage.
This isn’t as nearly serious as I thought! I can fix this! And, he proceeded to change a hose at the bottom of the radiator and refilled the car with water and some antifreeze. He also took the tires off of his wife’s Cadillac and replaced the ones on the old truck. George then went back into the front of the garage where he commented: No business tonight, its Christmas eve. About that time he heard a gun shot outside. He ran outside to see a police officer laying down beside his cruiser!
Are you alright?
No! Some guy just shot me and ran off.
George looked at the cop and said, Here let me help you up and get you inside of my garage! George helped the cop to get inside and applied direct compression as he had been trained as a medic during the war to stop the bleeding.
It looks like you’ve been shot through the shoulder but it doesn’t look like it hit anything major. You’ll be alright. Here, sit down and have a cup of coffee while I try to get you some help. George tried the phone but it was dead so he went outside to see if he could get some help on the cruisers radio. A shot had gone into the dash and disabled the radio. George went back inside of the garage to assist the officer further when a man came in with a gun and demanded all of George’s money. As George tried to calm the man down, the officer fumbled for his gun.
That’s the guy who shot me!
Leave that gun where it is, he told the officer. We’ve got one gun to many in here already!
Listen son, you don’t want to do this. If you need money, I’ll give you some! George produced a roll of bills from his pocket and gave the man 150 dollars.
About that time the man broke down and began to cry.
I’m really not to good at this, am I? The truth is, I just lost my job, I have a wife and a little boy, and I’ve got nothing to give them this Christmas!
Well, if you need a job I’ve got one for you, he said as he sat the man down across from the wounded cop.
I really couldn’t take anything from you. I was just desperate!
The cop said, you really should get rid of that thing before you do some real harm.
George told the man to keep the money and found a box of toys that his gas company had sent him to sell, and then he went into the back of the garage and found a box that he gave the man. The man opened the box and saw the biggest diamond that he had ever seen in his life.
I can’t take any of this!
Well, you’re not leaving here without it. The ring was my wife’s and she would have liked nothing more than for someone like you to have it, especially at Christmas.
Well, alright, but I’ll be back here to report for work tomorrow!
Not tomorrow, said George. Its Christmas day and we’ll be closed. Come back the day after that.
Right after the man left two police officers entered the garage and looked at the policeman.
Are you alright? Who shot you and where did he go?
How did you guys find me?
We used the GPS in your squad to locate you. Now where is this guy who shot you?
I don’t know! He ran off into the darkness!
The policemen helped their comrade and called for an ambulance. After they had left, George looked around to see the shopworn man standing behind him.
I thought you had gone!
No, I’ve been here all along. I’ve always been here! You know George, you’ve helped some people out here tonight! In fact, your always helping people. George, that couple that you helped with their car whose son was born tonight will become a world famous doctor. And that cop that you helped will become the chief of police of this town someday. And that man that you gave those nice presents to will come back and make you a lot of money and will never take anything for himself!
How do you know all of this, said George?
Oh, I just know these things. You have a good Christmas now George. And when your time comes, you will be back with your wife again!
As George looked at the mane in silence, he moved toward the door. As he moved his shopworn clothing melted away and were replaced with gleaming white robes and an aura around his head!
George fell to his knees as Jesus wished him a good night.
George simply said: Happy birthday Lord!
Regards, and a Merry Christmas to all of you!
Joe
The above is a retelling of a story that we heard this week!
To say that "God exists" is the greatest understatement ever made across space and time.
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