A Christmas Story to Share

Wally Purling was in the second grade even though he was nine years of age and should have been in the fourth grade. He just had difficulty in keeping up with the other children his age, but all his classmates liked him, even though he was big and clumsy and slow in movement and mind. He was always helpful and willing, smiling and happy and the natural protector of the underdog.

Each year the school presented the traditional Christmas pageant and this year Wally was assigned an important role. After all, Miss Lumbard reasoned, the innkeeper did not have many lines, and Wally’s size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph even more forceful.

On the night of the performance, Wally was so caught up in the magic of the night that he stood in the wings and watched the pagenant with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lumbard had to make sure he didn’t wander on stage before his cue. Then came the time when Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop.

“What do you want?” Wally said, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.
“We seek lodging.”
“Seek it elsewhere.” Wally looked straight ahead but spoke vigorously. “The Inn is filled.”
“Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary.”
“There is no room in this Inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern.
“Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.”

At this comment the innkeeper relaxed his stern stance and looked down at Mary for the first time. There was a long pause that made the audience a bit nervous and the prompter whispered from the wings, “No! Begone!”

“No!” Wally repeated automatically. “Begone!”

As Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and the two of them started to move away, the innkeeper did not return inside his inn. Instead, Wally stood there in the doorway watching the forlorn couple with his mouth open, his brow creased with concern, and his eyes filling unmistakably with tears. And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.

“Don’t go, Joseph,” Wally called out. “Bring Mary back.” And Wally Purling’s face grew into a bright smile. “YOU CAN HAVE MY ROOM!”

May each of us make room for our Savior this Christmas Season, just as Wally Purling did.
Merry Christmas to each of you!

Give a Little Hope

I wanted to share this story at the beginning of this Christmas season to remind us to look for those around us who may need some "hope" this year. In this month's Ensign, President Monson reminds us that Jesus Christ went about "doing good." We don't have to look very far to find someone to do good to! Enjoy the story.

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.' The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... An over-whelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there , standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman close to me, he was 'smiling.'
His beautiful sky blue eyes looked up at me as he searched for acceptance. He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I felt it - the compulsion was so great that I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

It truly takes so little to give a smile, a little hope, a little love to someone in need. Let's do good this Christmas season.