Since the days of the youth movement, church youth work has often lacked that element of Christian sobriety that alone might enable it to recognize that the spirit of youth is not the Holy Spirit and that the future of the church is not youth itself but rather the Lord Jesus Christ alone. It is the task of youth not to reshape the church, but rather to listen to the Word of God; it is the task of the church not to capture the youth, but to teach and proclaim the Word of God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer circa 1932
Category: Children
Sarah’s Special Christmas
Sarah’s Special Christmas
By David Nelson
Sarah was an industrious young girl, saving all her money during the year to buy her mother a very special necklace from Johnson’s Jewelers.
She and her mother were looking last December and her mother, in a moment of total honesty, said, “If your dad has extra money, I’d ask him for that beautiful necklace so I could keep your picture next to my heart.”
They grinned and hugged each other in that special mom to daughter embrace. Later, Sarah returned to get the name and stock number for her secret surprise next Christmas.
Well, it was almost next Christmas and Sarah had saved nearly all the money she needed, $125! It was so hard to not spend any of her money during the year. Many times she almost weakened to buy herself or her friends a treat. But she refused even when her best friend, Caroline, begged her to go to a movie starring their favorite actress. With tears in her eyes, she held fast to her promise, keeping her money safe in her bedroom.
Every week, Sarah stopped by Johnson’s to remind herself of why she was saving all her money. The necklace, with a heart-shaped locket always gleamed and sparkled back at her. Two more weeks and you will be mine, she thought. Mom will be so surprised.
The following two weeks were filled with all things Christmas. Decorating the tree, the house, lights on the house and wrapping presents for friends and relatives. It was just about time for Sarah to pick up the necklace. She couldn’t help grinning as she pictured her mom opening the box.
Two days before she was scheduled to get the necklace, Sarah decided to tell Caroline why she had been saving all her money. She knew she would be excited for her when she found out.
Caroline’s mother opened the door and invited Sarah in. She seemed downcast. “Can I see Caroline?” she asked. Mrs. Willis replied, “Of course, honey. But she is not in a good mood. We got some bad news today. See if you can cheer her up for me.”
Caroline was on her bed, crying into her pillow. Sarah sat beside her and spoke her name, “Caroline, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, it’s so terrible, Sarah. My dad got fired today. He’s been at his job for longer than I can remember and they sold the company last week. Today he was called in and they fired him. And it’s Christmas.”
“I am so sorry. What can I do to help?” She wondered why she asked that question. What could she possibly do to help Caroline’s dad?
“I don’t think you can do anything. His final check was very small because they made him pay off his loan before he left. Now he can’t get the car out of the shop to look for work. His cousin Billy said he could work for him until he finds a better job.”
“Then why are you so sad? He has another job right away.”
“Because after he paid for rent and stuff, he doesn’t have any money to pay for the car repair. And he needs the car to go to work tomorrow.”
“Wow. That’s horrible. Does your mom have any money?” And then a little voice spoke inside Sarah–“You have $125 to help your friend’s father. Give it to them.” Sarah was horrified to think of giving up her mom’s money. She had saved all year and her mother deserved the necklace. Giving the money to Caroline’s dad wouldn’t be fair. It was his fault he got fired, I am sure.
“What? You know my mom doesn’t work, Sarah. But actually, I have $15 I’m giving to dad. It’s all I have. Maybe he can talk the repair guy to put it on credit.”
“Yeah, maybe he can. Listen, I have to go now. Give me a hug.”
Wiping her eyes, Caroline said, “Why’d you come over?”
“Oh, no reason. I just wanted to talk. See you later.”
Why should I have to give her my money, Sarah wrestled with that little voice. I’m just a kid. He dad wouldn’t even take my money…probably. I’ve saved all year for my mother. Her joy was ebbing away, taking her excitement with it. Is this fair, she wondered.
Standing in front of Johnson’s Jewelry with tears streaming down her face, Sarah knew she had to give the money to Mr. Willis. Her mom and dad were always giving stuff away and they told her it was what we are supposed to do…help others, especially when it isn’t easy.
Now she was in the store, staring at the necklace. “Come to pick it up?” a voice nearby said. “I’ve watched you come in all year and I figured you would get it for Christmas. Like me to wrap it up young lady?”
Sarah whirled around and ran out the door, crying as she ran all the way to the Willis’.
Mrs. Willis let her into the kitchen where Caroline and her father were sitting. Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out the wad of bills, totaling $125, and dropped them onto the table.
“I’ve saved this money and I want you to have it, Mr. Willis. Caroline told me you can’t pay for the car repair so I want you to have the money. You don’t have to pay me back.”
Mr. and Mrs. Willis and Caroline were speechless as they stared at the wad of bills. Sarah ran all the way home, still sobbing. She cried herself to sleep.
“Honey, wake up,” her mother said, gently rubbing her back. “Your dad and I want to talk with you and it’s time to eat.”
She splashed some water on her swollen eyes and joined her folks in the kitchen. “Sarah, we are so proud of you,” her father said, tears in his eyes. “We know how hard it was to save all year for that special gift for your mother. But giving it away at the last minute was amazing. You are so generous, sweetheart. So loving and kind.”
Sarah was puzzled. How did they know what she saved for? “How did you know?”
“You’re not going to believe this,” her dad said, “but I was planning on buying her the same necklace. So today, when I went in to pick it up, the clerk told me about you coming month after month all year and then today how you ran away without buying it I wondered what had happened. So your mother called the Willis’ and they told us what you did. Honey you made us so proud. So very proud. We know how difficult they was. And your generosity was worth a thousand necklaces.”
“I love you so much, mom. But I knew you would want me to give my money to Mr. Willis.”
“You will be glad to know that your father bought the necklace for me and so I bought you one too. Here.”
During her life, Sarah shared the story of saving her money all year and then giving it away just before she bought the necklace for her mother. Her children and grandchildren knew it by heart after a few tellings but they too, became generous, loving people, giving away sacrificially, just as Christ did for everyone.
The Foolish Son
Having spent some time in my life expecting others to provide for me whether or not I worked, I realize the sooner you learn to earn your way, the better off you are. Each of us needs to understand the value of rent, car payments, groceries, clothes, etc.
I knew a guy whose folks not only bought his first car, they supplied his insurance too (so he could go to school without transportation worries). He soon lost his license (DUI) and then wrecked his car. He had to miss a term of school because of injuries so he moved back home. During this time, his parents realized their son was too immature to handle life on his own. They told him that he would have to work for a year and save enough money for the first term of college. During this year, he would live rent free and grocery free but he had to save most of his paychecks toward college.
He worked and saved money for six months and then fell off the wagon. He went to a college student vacation place and blew all his savings in two weeks.
Upon returning home, his parents said nothing about his trip. After all, it was his money. However, when fall enrollment time came around, and the young lad sat with his parents in the kitchen to talk about school…and how much money they were planning to give him for tuition, they sternly answered, “Nothing.”
Shocked, he asked, “Why?” They replied, “You’ve broken the agreement and spent most of the money, even though we kept our part by giving you free rent and food. If you wish to attend a University or State college, you will have to begin saving your money. If, instead, you will be satisfied with attending the community college, we will continue providing free rent and groceries. But…you will have to keep your job.
He was stunned, hurt and angry. He stormed out of the kitchen and did not return for three days. While gone, he stayed with an old college roommate, losing his job. Tired of hanging out, doing nothing, he returned home to renegotiate with his parents.
He said he could get a good job with a friend’s father and begin saving money for school again. His father told him that was a good idea but things were different now. Since he had broken his word more than once, walked off his previous job and spent all his money, he would now have to pay $250 each month for rent.
His father continued by telling him he must have his decision in the morning. The next morning the son agreed with very little enthusiasm.
Time passed and the following fall enrollment season, the parents and son met once again for their college education talk. This time his parents had quite a surprise for their son.
“Now that you have lived up to your part of the agreement,” they said, “we have a surprise for you. We are giving your rent money back to you for your expenses at school. And, if all goes well this term, and we see your grades in the acceptable range for your ability, we are prepared to further negotiate for the following term. However, it will be necessary for you to seek part-time employment to pay for any shortfalls.”
And so it went…each term they negotiated a new agreement with a little bonus money at the end of each successful year.
On graduation day, four years later, his parents gave him a check equal to $250 a month times four years. “You have earned it, son,” they told him. “We are proud of you and so thankful for your hard work these four years.”
A Package of Hamburger
At eleven years old, David had a great imagination. He often played by himself, becoming the hero and his arch enemy. Most of his games were daring and adventuresome like climbing to the tops of the tall eucalyptus trees, swaying in the breeze as he pretended to scout the horizon for enemy ships.
His favorite games involved fist-fights and gun or knife battles with himself (sometimes the bad guy won to be fought another day). After wrestling his dangerous foes, either he or they would tumble down the stairs, sprawling out onto the TV-room floor. This brought a scowl and warning from his mother.
“David, stop that, we’re trying to watch TV!”
Like any secret agent or daring cowboy, he paid no mind to the voice. After all, what could she know about his dangerous missions? Besides, she seldom punished him on the first warning.
His biggest challenge had been to find a way to use knives that looked as though they were sticking in him. As he pondered the idea he knew he needed some sort of padding hidden beneath his T-shirt that he could stab. That way the knife would be stuck into his shirt, as though he was stabbed. But what could he use? And then it became crystal clear; a package of hamburger!
His mother always bought her meats at the country market and they packaged them in butcher paper. He got a paring knife from the drawer and opened the fridge and scoured through the hamburger packages, measuring each one with the knife blade, looking for the perfect depth that would take the knife but not stick his body. In a few seconds he found the one. To make sure, he cautiously tested by putting the package beneath his shirt and slowly inserting the knife. It worked!
Now armed with a new weapon he could fight for his life until the final moment either he or his enemy lost the battle as the knife was pushed into his special-effects padding beneath his shirt. The final moment was always gritty and vein popping as one of his hands held the other wrist that held the knife. Ohh, he would exhale, reeling backwards with shock and pending doom, seeing the knife protruding from his chest.
Over and over he fought his imaginary enemies, each time ending the duel with a plunge of the paring knife into the package of meat. He was thrilled at his cleverness and realistic results. But, as all boys do, he tired at last of this game. He tossed the knife into the sink, the hamburger into the fridge and his soiled shirt into the dirty clothes. And thought no more about it. Until later.
“DAVID!” his mother called from the kitchen. He paused to reflect on what he’d done that day and could not think of anything worthy of trouble so he light-heartedly dashed into the kitchen.
“What is this?” she said, holding the package of hamburger with multiple stab wounds.
He told her his story hoping she would show mercy. She had to look away so he wouldn’t see her smiling. She composed herself. “And what did you do with your T-shirt?”
“Oh,” he was concerned now, “I put it in the dirty clothes.”
“Don’t ever do this again,” she said. “I’ll probably never get that shirt clean. And what about the holes? Go outside and play.”
As the back door closed behind him, he thought he heard his mother laughing like she’d just heard a great joke.
Let The Little Children Come To Me~Jesus
A Child Is Born To Us, A Son Is Given To Us – Isaiah 9:6
He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Artist unknown.
A Package of Hamburger
A Package of Hamburger
At eleven years old, David had a great imagination. He often played by himself, becoming the hero and his arch enemy. Most of his games were daring and adventuresome like climbing to the tops of the tall eucalyptus trees, swaying in the breeze as he pretended to scout the horizon for enemy ships.
His favorite games involved fist-fights and gun or knife battles with himself (sometimes the bad guy won to be fought another day). After wrestling his dangerous foes, either he or they would tumble down the stairs, sprawling out onto the TV-room floor. This brought a scowl and warning from his mother.
“David, stop that, we’re trying to watch TV!”
Like any secret agent or daring cowboy, he paid no mind to the voice. After all, what could she know about his dangerous missions? Besides, she seldom punished him on the first warning.
His biggest challenge had been to find a way to use knives that looked as though they were sticking in him. As he pondered the idea he knew he needed some sort of padding hidden beneath his T-shirt that he could stab. That way the knife would be stuck into his shirt, as though he was stabbed. But what could he use? And then it became crystal clear; a package of hamburger!
His mother always bought her meats at the country market and they packaged them in butcher paper. He got a paring knife from the drawer and opened the fridge and scoured through the hamburger packages, measuring each one with the knife blade, looking for the perfect depth that would take the knife but not stick his body. In a few seconds he found the one. To make sure, he cautiously tested by putting the package beneath his shirt and slowly inserting the knife. It worked!
Now armed with a new weapon he could fight for his life until the final moment either he or his enemy lost the battle as the knife was pushed into his special-effects padding beneath his shirt. The final moment was always gritty and vein popping as one of his hands held the other wrist that held the knife. Ohh, he would exhale, reeling backwards with shock and pending doom, seeing the knife protruding from his chest.
Over and over he fought his imaginary enemies, each time ending the duel with a plunge of the paring knife into the package of meat. He was thrilled at his cleverness and realistic results. But, as all boys do, he tired at last of this game. He tossed the knife into the sink, the hamburger into the fridge and his soiled shirt into the dirty clothes. And thought no more about it. Until later.
“DAVID!” his mother called from the kitchen. He paused to reflect on what he’d done that day and could not think of anything worthy of trouble so he light-heartedly dashed into the kitchen.
“What is this?” she said, holding the package of hamburger with multiple stab wounds.
He told her his story hoping she would show mercy. She had to look away so he wouldn’t see her smiling. She composed herself. “And what did you do with your T-shirt?”
“Oh,” he was concerned now, “I put it in the dirty clothes.”
“Don’t ever do this again,” she said. “I’ll probably never get that shirt clean. And what about the holes? Go outside and play.”
As the back door closed behind him, he thought he heard his mother laughing like she’d just heard a great joke.
© David Nelson
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