No Hands But Our Hands

Shortly after the culmination of the Second World War, a devastated city in England began its heartbreaking and weary work of restoration. In the old city square had stood a large statue of Jesus Christ with his hands outspread in an attitude of invitation. On the pedestal were carved the words, "Come unto me".

In the process of restoration of the statue, with the aid of master artists and sculptors, the figure eventually was reassembled, except for the hands, of which no fragments could be discovered anywhere in the surrounding rubble. Someone made the suggestion that the artists, since the former hands could not be found, would have to fashion new hands.

Later came a public protest, couched in the words, "No, leave Him without hands!". So today, in the public square of that English city, the restored statue of Christ stands without hands and at the base are carved the words, "Christ has no hands but ours!".

At this Christmas time, let's think of something we can do.

A Brother Like That

A friend of mine named Paul received a new car from his brother as a pre-Christmas present. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.

"Is this your car Mister?" he asked.

Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas."

The boy looked astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you, and it didn't cost you anything? Gosh, I wish...."

He hesitated, and Paul knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.

"I wish" the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."

Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, than impulsively asked, "Would you like a ride in my new car?"

"Oh yes, I'd love that!"

After a short ride the urchin turned and with his eyes aglow said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?"

Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.

"Will you stop right where those steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little polio-crippled brother. He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up right against him and pointed to the car.

"There she is Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas, and it didn't cost him a cent, and someday I'm gonna give you one just like it. Than you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Paul got out and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car. The shiny-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He said, "It is more blessed to Give...."

Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood

Hello, little Mouse, I see you're ready for Christmas.
My goodness! What a lot of presents. Are they all for you?
But, little mouse, what about the big, hungry Bear in the cold, dark cave at the top of the hill?
Ohhh, how that Bear loves Christmas presents!
Red ones, green ones, little ones, big ones. . . .
that Bear would do ANYTHING to get some presents.
But he never does. Not even from Santa Claus.
BOO HOO HOO. Every Christmas he sits alone in his cold, dark cave, and PLOP PLOP PLOP tears fall from his big, hungry eyes.
Little Mouse, what are you doing?
Oh, I see. What a brave little Mouse you are.
No one else in the whole wide world would go to the cold, dark cave of the big, hungry bear. . . .
especially on Christmas Eve.
Shhhh little Mouse, Someone big is fast asleep. . . . .
Quick Little Mouse, Someone big is waking up . . . .
HIDE LITTLE MOUSE! SOMEONE BIG IS PEEKING!!
Come out, come out little Mouse. I see something big . . .
for you! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
FROM THE BIG, HUNGRY BEAR!