A Home for Christmas (Part 5)

Today I present the final installment for this year’s Christmas story. Each year, I find myself wondering if I should continue this tradition here on the blog and each year, at the end of December, I am so glad I did. I so enjoy creating these little stories that remind us of God’s faithfulness and working in our lives. If you enjoyed reading this year’s story, could you let me know? And if you have any ideas for future stories, I’d welcome them. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoy a wonderful holiday week ahead!

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     Christmas morning dawned bright and sunny. During the night a fresh coating of snow had fallen and June, looking out the window as breakfast was being prepared, noticed that the sunshine made the snow glisten like diamonds. As she sat there staring at the world outside, she thought about the past few weeks and how fun they had been. Whenever she thought about the little cabin in the woods, she shuddered to think about returning there. When would they have to go back? Her little mind didn’t rest there for long as her eyes moved back inside when Joey coughed and she spotted all of those wonderful, colorful presents under the tree.
     Joey, sitting on the sofa, was not as affected by the gifts. Oh, he did find himself a bit excited to open gifts. They didn’t usually get any at Christmastime. But even the special treat of actually opening gifts on Christmas didn’t remove the awful burden of how he and his sister were going to survive when they moved back to the cabin.
     Both children were completely unaware, as children usually are, that Martin and Linda had vowed to care for them—whether it was official or unofficial. At least until their mother showed back up. The children were no longer alone. They just didn’t know it yet, because they wanted to tell them on this morning. Christmas morning. And, oh, how they wanted it to be official when they told them. But it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
     Martin had searched the surrounding villages high and low for the children’s mother, to no avail. All inquiries were dead ends, leading to nowhere. They had not given up but they had nothing to announce today.
     Martin had run down to the store to check something before breakfast and when his steps sounded on the staircase, Linda wiped her hands on her apron and came to the door of the living room to announce breakfast. The four gathered around the kitchen table and said grace before diving into a special breakfast of scrambled eggs, thick slices of bacon, golden pancakes, and Linda’s special baked cinnamon apples.
     Linda noticed a certain twinkle in Martin’s eye after he came back upstairs and gave him a questioning glance. He just ignored her as he heartily ate his breakfast and talked with the children.
     After breakfast, they went into the living room to open gifts. The next hour was spent oohing and aahing over all the wonderful treats and special items that had been chosen for the children. Fragrant oranges and sweet peppermints were in the stocking that they shared— a stocking that had been carefully packed away for five years and had the initial “R” on it.
     They opened gifts that contained new coats, hats, and mittens. Joey found a pocket knife in a small brightly wrapped package and June received a beautiful doll. The children, thrilled at their gifts— and even more thrilled that someone would care enough to actually give them something—were filled with gratitude. June exuberantly hugged both Martin and Linda and even Joey, who tended to be more reserved, hugged them both. That was a first.
     If only…thought Linda, but then she stopped herself. The children were here for now. That must be enough. She didn’t have to know what tomorrow held to enjoy today.
     June got up from the floor and retrieved a card from her room. The brightly colored Christmas card had been created from the paper and crayons that Linda had brought up from the store. She shyly handed the card to Linda and turned to Martin to say seriously, “this is for both of you.”
     Linda looked down at the card to find a picture of their little makeshift family beside a colorful Christmas tree. She couldn’t help but wonder what the future held as she beheld the precious gift in her hands.
     “Oh, thank you, June. This is such a lovely drawing,” she said.
     Martin cleared his throat and spoke up, “I wonder if I might give one last Christmas present?”
     “Now what do you have up your sleeve, my dear?” Linda laughed. She knew there was something special since he had returned from downstairs. She had no idea what it was, though. Perhaps he had ordered a special sled for the children, she thought as she remembered the snow that covered the ground.
     Martin continued, “this morning, I received an unexpected telegram. It would seem that a gentlemen I talked to a few weeks ago personally took it upon himself to locate your mother. He found her in a different state, where she now lives and works. He states here in this telegram,” he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and opened it to read, “that ‘Mrs. Martha Grayson gives her blessing for her children to stay with Martin and Linda Bell permanently’, ” he lifted his bright eyes and said happily, “Would you like that?”
     “Are you serious?” Linda asked in disbelief.
     Meanwhile, the children sat in stunned amazement.
     “There are some things we will need to do to make it official. But, according to the telegram that I received this morning, we should not have any problems,” Martin turned to the children, “So, you two, would you like to become part of our family? Linda and I have grown to love you both dearly and would love for you to stay here forever.”
     June was the first to jump up and throw her arms around Martin’s neck, “Oh, yes! Oh, yes! OH, YES!” she cried over and over.
     Joey was a little less ecstatic than June outwardly but he was certainly no less ecstatic on the inside. He sat in wonder at what had just happened. The burden of caring for his sister rolled off his small shoulders at Martin’s words and the thought of being part of a family with a loving father and kindhearted mother almost made his little heart burst with joy.
          That Christmas morning, love came to the children in the form of family and the joy of this would last through the coming years. It really was a happy ending in a world where there are so few happy endings. Unbeknownst to all who sat around the Christmas tree talking happily that morning, God had answered a godly grandmother’s prayer to care for her grandchildren. Just as the old woman had known He would.