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The School of Truth
Stories for Young ReadersGOD'S GIFTS
Val Winstanley
© The School of Truth
Source p. 60, Dec 2003 / Jan 2004 - The Path of TruthFur coat? Not on your life - even if she had the money! Tracey eyed the thin, pale dummies in the women's clothing shop. Their fixed smiles and hollow eyes were like the fur coats draped over them - artificial. Thank goodness the shops no longer displayed real fur, but none of it appealed to her, so she moved on to the next window, to a toy shop.
A toy clown grinned cheekily at her amid a group of dolls. A musical lamp turned slowly in the corner of the shop window. She could just hear its sweet tinkling. "What a lovely gift that would make" she thought, knowing she could not afford it. She sighed. She loved window shopping - she could day-dream without being watched by the shop assistants.
Earlier, as she walked down the mall, she had let her imagination soar, planning a trip to Disney World at the travel bureau, re-doing her bedroom at the bedroom boutique. But now she was looking earnestly for something to give her Gran for Christmas - something special that her savings could stretch to. It was late in the nearly empty window of the jewellery shop. Most of the items had been removed to a strongroom for the night and the only thing glittering was silver confetti among a few cheap watches and bracelets. Tracey was about to move on when something caught her eye. A dainty gold brooch lay on the floor of the display, half covered by confetti. It must have fallen there. She looked closer - it was so pretty, with tiny blue stones outlining a heart shape. She wondered how much it cost.
All through the weekend she thought about the brooch - it would be just perfect for her Gran. She would go back next week and ask about the price. But she didn't manage to get there until Thursday, on her way home from hockey practice. "Oh, I do know the brooch you mean" the shop assistant nodded. "We left it in the window by mistake one night. But I'm afraid you've missed it - someone bought it this morning." Tracey felt so sad. Now she had to find something else to get Gran, and it was only a week to Christmas.
"What are you guys doing for Christmas?" Tracey's friend Barry asked her a few days later. "We don't really celebrate Christmas" she told him, "We do buy each other presents but just have a barbeque in the garden." "We keep up the Christmas tradition" said Barry, "We go to a midnight church service on Christmas eve. We decorate our tree and have a big lunch with turkey on Christmas day." Tracey felt empty. She couldn't remember her family ever doing that. Suddenly she remembered her Gran telling her about her own childhood Christmases. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have one for her now" she thought, suddenly excited.
That night at supper she told her family her plan. At first they showed little enthusiasm but by the time supper was over they had warmed to the idea and all agreed to help. The next day her brother Rick borrowed a small potted pine tree from a friend whose family had extra ones. Everyone helped to make coloured paper-chains to drape around the tree and the sitting room. Mom bought a turkey instead of the usual barbeque pack, and made a genuine plum pudding. Dad had a dozen old silver five-cent pieces that he hid in the pudding, and he bought a large box of Christmas crackers.
On Christmas morning they all went in the car to fetch Gran. She was delighted to see them so early and they stayed to attend the Christmas service in the chapel of the retirement home. When they got back they settled down in the lounge to open their gifts. The delicious smell of roast turkey and brandy custard for the pudding wafted through from the kitchen.
Tracey's present from Gran was a tiny package wrapped in shiny blue paper with silver stars on it. As eventually she opened the box she almost dropped in surprise. There, winking at her from a little cushion of tissue paper, was the heart-shaped golden brooch she had seen in the jewellery shop. "I saw it quite by accident" said Gran lovingly, "and I thought it was just the thing for you."
Our dear ones and our days in this world are our real gifts - sent to us from God. Never miss special occasions when you can celebrate these great gifts and thank your heavenly Father for them.
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