A Christmas Lesson Jack Will Never Forget



A short story of holiday hope and giving

Jack was in his last year of law school. By next spring he'll be taking the bar exam and be able to put many years of grueling academic studies behind him.

His parents were proud of everything he had sacrificed and accomplished. Jack worked part-time after school trying to ease the financial pressure on his parents who paid for his books and tuition.

With graduation in sight and with a little extra cash left in his college fund, Jack's parents bought him a new car for Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, Jack was finishing up his Christmas shopping when he saw a kid with ripped jeans and tattered shoes, admiring his shiny new car.

"Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.

Jack nodded in affirmation and said "My brother gave it to me for Christmas."

The boy was surprised. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything?

The Unexpected Offer

Wow, I wish..." The boy hesitated.

Jack knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother just like Jack.

But what the boy said was far beyond Jack’s expectation.

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

"For a few seconds words failed Jack and then he impulsively added, "Would you like to take a ride in my car?"

"Oh yeah, that'd be cool."

After a short ride, the boy turned toward Jack. His eyes were glowing with excitement and he said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?"

Jack smiled a little. Thinking the boy wanted to show off in front of his neighbors and friends.

But Jack was wrong again...

The Lesson

Jack drove up to the boy's house.

"Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked.

The boy ran up the steps, and shuffled a bit, and then slowly started coming back down the stairs to Jack's car.

The reason for the boy's slow progress down the stairs was because he was carrying his little brother who was physically challenged.

With remarkable compassion and care he helped his brother down to the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

"There she is, Jimmy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a penny. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Jack got out and carefully lifted Jimmy onto the front seat of his car. His brother, whose eyes were gleaming with joy, squeezed in the seat beside him...

...and the three of them ventured on a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Jack learned what Jesus meant when he said: "It is more blessed to give..."

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