Christmas Story:

A friend of mine named Paul got a new car from his brother as a pre-Christmas gift. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a boy was walking around the shiny new car, looking at it in awe.

“Is this your car, mister?” the boy asked.

Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.”

The boy looked amazed. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything? Wow, I wish…”

Paul thought the boy was going to say he wished he had a brother like that, but the boy surprised him.

“I wish,” the boy said, “that I could be a brother like that.”

Paul was shocked, and without thinking, he said, “Would you like a ride in my new car?”

“Yes, I’d love that!” the boy replied.

After a short ride, the boy asked, “Mister, could you drive by my house?”

Paul smiled, thinking the boy wanted to show off his new ride to his neighbors. But Paul was wrong.

“Can you stop by the steps?” the boy asked. He ran up the steps and came back slowly, carrying his little brother, who had polio. He sat down on the steps and said, “There she is, Buddy, just like I told you. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a thing. Someday, I’m going to get you one just like it, and then you can see all the beautiful Christmas windows I’ve been telling you about.”

Paul got out of the car and helped the little boy into the front seat. The older brother climbed in beside him, and the three of them took a memorable ride together.

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