A Christmas Wish For All Of You

[billintulsa]

It was toward the end of World War II, and a small boy, orphaned by a bombing raid from the night before, began rummaging through the war-torn streets of England.

   Barely ten years-old, the boy staggered through the pock-marked streets, stepping over smoking pieces of rubble which had been scattered from the neighboring building.  Looking around as he walked, the boy viewed the total devastation of his neighborhood; he saw the bodies of his neighbors, the crumpled shells of once-fine motor cars, and the smoking ruins of the homes which once lined a garden garnished neighborhood.

   Walking aimlessly, he found himself near a few scattered buildings which survived the bombing raid from the night before.  Other people who survived were also wandering around as if looking for somewhere to go.  Others actually tried to continue their lives a stretched degree of normalcy almost acting as if nothing really happened.

   Suddenly, the boy's nostrils were filled with a sweet, familiar aroma.  Looking across the street, the boy saw one of the few remaining businesses: a pastry shop.  The baker inside busied himself, preparing baked goods for customers whom, for the most part, no longer existed.  What seemed to be an effort in futility was the baker's way of handling the nightmarish ordeal from the previous night.

Dodging the bomb craters and jumping over the strewn debris, the young boy ran across the street and pressed his little nose against the cold glass window of the bakery.  The boy's mouth watered as he watched the baker place a steaming tray of freshly made doughnuts in the window.

Just then a jeep driven by an American soldier happened by.  Noticing the boy staring into the bakery, the soldier pulled over and walked over to the boy.  "Those sure look good, don't they," the soldier asked. The little boy didn't even look up as he nodded his head in agreement.
The soldier disappeared into the store, and a few minutes later he emerged with a sack of fresh doughnuts.  The little boy felt a finger tapping his shoulder and when he turned, he saw the soldier offering the bag of sweet morsels.  "I hope you enjoy these," the soldier said as the wide-eyed boy gratefully received the gift.

The soldier was climbing back into his jeep when he felt a tugging on his trousers.  He looked down and he saw the little boy staring into his eyes.  With a joyful tone in his voice the little boy said, "Excuse me, mister.  Are you God?"


"For God so loved the world, that He gave . . . "


Merry Christmas everyone!