31 Days of Christmas – Day #28

Helping One of the Least of These

There was a gracious old shoemaker who one night dreamt that Christ would come to his shop on the following day. Early the next morning he went out to the woods to gather green boughs to decorate his shop for the Lord’s coming.
All day he waited, but the only visitor who came by was an old man. He asked if he might sit down to rest. This shoemaker saw that the visitor’s shoes were indeed very worn, so before sending the stranger on his way, he put the best pair of shoes in the shop on his feet.
Throughout the afternoon, he continued to wait patiently for the Lord’s coming, but the only person he saw was an old woman who struggled under a heavy load. Out of compassion he brought her in and shared some of the food he’d prepared for Christ. She went her way refreshed as the shoemaker continued his vigil.
Just as the shades of night were falling, a lost child entered his shop. He kindly walked the frightened child home to his parents, then hurried back to his shop so he wouldn’t miss the coming of Christ. But even though he waited long and patiently, Jesus did not come. In great despair, the old shoemaker cried, “Why is it, Lord, that your feet delay? Did You forget that this was the day?”
Then softly in the silence, he heard a voice saying:

“Lift up your heart. I kept My word.
Three times I came to your friendly door.
And three times My shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with bruised feet.
I was the woman you gave food to eat.
I was the child of the homeless street.
I was all of these.
And when you have done it to the least of these,
You have done it unto Me. And I thank you!
And the shoemaker, through grateful tears replied,
“And I thank You!”
(Hebrews 13:1-2)