| yes it's lengthy..but read it. This story is about a girl. This story is not about an orphan, or Ebenezer Scrooge. This girl is just like you and me. She had a mom, a dad and two older brothers. Her and her family lived in suburbia New York and she attended a school much like our own. She had many friends and was considered to be the most popular girl at school. She had a boyfriend who ran for the cross country team and who treated her like a princess. But there was one thing this all-American girl was missing, and that my friends, is where our story really begins.
Every morning, Heather walks the same way to the bus stop; first she walks past the dry cleaners, then the bakery where she usually buys a tall latte and a muffin or two; and then she walks past a dark alley where the same three bums sit in the very same spot as the day before. The bums never say anything to Heather, but every time she walks past them she clutches her belongings tighter than before and speeds up only a little bit. She doesn’t want them to see her increase her walking pace because she doesn’t want them to feel bad; even though the looks on their faces tell the world of their self-pity.
One wintry December morning Heather was making her usual route towards the bus stop when she noticed something out of the ordinary. There, climbing into the trash can where the three bums call home, was a little boy. Heather stood for a moment or two, observing the little boy and then continued on her way; but something stopped her. The noise from the little boy’s feet hitting the steel trash can had awoken the bums and one of them shouted furiously at the boy to clear out of their trash can. “How rude!” Heather commented to herself, “the nerve of those guys I mean how could they kick a poor little boy who looks half-starved, out of a trash can?!” Heather considered for a few seconds whether or not she should speak up and tell those bums to mind their own business, but finally decided that for the safety of herself and her brand new Louis Vitton bag that she should just keep her mouth shut. So she walked away, rather hurriedly too, for her bus was about to leave and she didn’t want to be late for her last day of school before Christmas break.
By the time Christmas had finally arrived, Heather had completely forgotten about the little boy in the alley and began to anticipate the arrival of her family for Christmas dinner and the fact that she was expected to get lots of expensive presents this year. After what had felt like days, Heather’s family arrived and they all sat down in the family dining room and began to fill their plates with ham and turkey and all sorts of delectable food stuffs; when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Heather, out of curiosity, decided that she would be the one to open the door; so she got up and answered the door. There standing before her was the very same little boy that she had seen only a few days earlier trying to climb into the trash can in the alley. “Yes?” asked Heather impatiently, “what do you want?” Heather could see that the boy looked cold and the look on his face was grave and his voice shook when he answered; “please, can I come inside and eat with you? I’m really hungry and really cold, maybe you have a coat I can use?” “Sorry, kid, we’re packed in here and there’s hardly enough food for us!” Heather answered coldly, she knew she was lying to him but she really didn’t care. Her family was calling her and she was cold from the winter air coming in from outside, so she finally said to the boy; “hey, I think there’s a homeless shelter down the street, go there, we don’t have anything for you.” And she closed the door.
Why did Heather not so the same sympathy that she had she had demanded of the bums to the little boy? Could she be so heartless as to turn this poor little boy away? You see, some people have lost the hope that Christmas gives. They have become consumed with commercialism and Santa Claus and have lost the true purpose of Christmas; which to me, is sacrificing. Christ was born to us as a helpless baby only to grow up and die horrifically on the cross, making the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus says that “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.” So I ask you, will you turn away those in need this Christmas season? Or will you sacrifice your gifts or your time to those who are in need? Do what you wish, but know that some one in your very own neighborhood could be in need and reach out to them.
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