Merry Christmas

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Good morning from cloudy, foggy, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. The high temperature for today will be 28 F. No chance of the snow melting today. I will have my White Christmas. My plans for today are simple: Work on a book or watch Christmas movies I haven't seen yet this year. I delivered my Secret Santa gift along with a story I wrote several years ago and will share below. I also delivered a gift and story to my friend down the hall. I will celebrate Christmas tomorrow with my son and his girlfriend. It should be a wonderful day. Here now is the story I gave this morning. A Christmas Gingerbread Man Miracle Valerie Jean Routhieaux Santa was in a hurry as he headed for the kitchen where the aroma of freshly baked Gingerbread Men cookies was going into the oven, coming out of the oven, or getting frosted and decorated by Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus looked up from her decorating as Santa came into the kitchen. Raisin eyes, licorice eyebrows and mouth, a candy cherry nose, and rosy, red frosting cheeks met Santa’s perusal. They were almost complete. All that needed doing was to put snowflakes in every color frosting on their bellies and trim the hands and feet with white frosting. “These are the special orders for the Children’s Hospitals,” said Mrs. Claus. “The children have been extra good this year.” “That’s why I’m here. I just got a report, with an extra special request. Two children in the same family survived a fatal car crash. They were airlifted to one of the Children’s Hospitals in serious condition. The doctors give them slim hope of a good Christmas.” Mrs. Claus looked at the concerned look on Santa’s face. “You take two special Gingerbread Men to those children tonight. They need hope everything will be all right.” “That is why I came to see you.” Mrs. Claus took white icing and made the brim for Santa’s hat, and then she took some red icing and made the cap that came down the backs of two cookies and ended in a white ball of icing. When everything was ready, she placed them in a special dryer that would make the icing hard so it wouldn’t melt but would also give off the fresh baked Gingerbread aroma. She then sealed them in two Gingerbread Men containers and handed them to Santa. “Now you best hurry before this Christmas miracle is too late.” Santa took the still-warm containers from Mrs. Claus and hurried on his way. He was met by his head elf as he entered the sleigh yard. “Santa, sir, you cannot take the sleigh before December 24. It will destroy the magic.” Without hesitation, Santa replied, “It will be all right tonight. This is a special errand from Heaven itself. I was told Jesus and His angels are taking care of our little ones at one of the Children’s Hospitals.” “Jesus and the angels?” said the head elf in wonder. “Yes, now I must leave immediately. I have no time to waste.” “Yes, sir, Santa. I will tell the other elves about your special mission. Good luck.” Santa was soon seen leaving the North Pole with two special cookies and a present for each child. Now, there are some things we mortals are privileged to see, and some things only the spiritual realm has access to. As Santa drove his sleigh through the starlit night, it was as though heaven were lit with a special light. He heard the prayers of children and saw their angels taking special care of their charges. When Santa came in sight of the little town where the accident took place, he saw the sky lit up with angels, and a special light illuminated the hospital. Santa settled his sleigh on the front lawn and found a heavenly escort ready to take him to the children. At the hospital entrance, Michael and Gabriel welcomed him with a quiet sword salute as they ushered Santa through the door. Santa’s suit took on a brilliant glow, while the angels looked like ordinary men. A hush fell over the hospital as nurses, doctors, and staff members turned as one to see Santa head towards the room where a brother and sister struggled with life. At the entrance to their room, Santa stopped and bowed his knees in worship of Jesus, the true reason for Christmas. A tear sparkled on each cheek and dripped on each Gingerbread man container. “We have all been expecting you,” said Jesus. “My Savior, why me and not You?” said Santa. “I sent for you. These precious children are in My care, even as you are in My care. Little Johnnie and Rachel are hovering near death, but I have sent death away. In their prayers, they asked that I take special care of their parents, and they had one special Christmas wish: to see you. I sent Mrs. Claus to bake some Gingerbread Men cookies. Every Christmas their mother made Gingerbread Men cookies. The aroma filled the house, and excitement of Christmas and the celebration of My birth permeated the air.” “My Savior, these children deserve more than a cookie can give them. They deserve life. My request is for their life, not death, this special night,” said Santa. Jesus smiled. “It is time you saw the children; they are waiting for you.” Jesus went into the room with the beeping monitors, and two tiny children swathed in bandages. Johnnie and Rachel opened their eyes and looked towards the door. “Santa!” they said reaching their hands towards him. “Jesus heard our prayers,” said Johnnie. “Yes, He did,” said Santa. “He sent for me right away. I have a special present for you.” Santa stood between their beds and held out his hands with the cookies to each of them. Rachel opened the Gingerbread Man container. The aroma of freshly baked Gingerbread cookies filled the air. “It smells just like Momma’s.” “It does,” said Johnnie. He took a bite. “It tastes like Momma’s too!” Rachel took a bite. “Mm, yes it does! Thank you, Santa.” “You’re welcome. Now I want you, children, to go to sleep and remember that it isn’t me that Christmas is about.” “Christmas is about Jesus,” said Johnnie. “Christmas is about God’s gift to us,” said Rachel. “Yes, and I know that because you are special to God, Jesus can make you better,” said Santa. “Momma and Daddy are in heaven,” said Rachel, as tears streamed down her cheeks. “And you will see them again,” said Santa. “I asked Jesus to make us better,” said Johnnie. “And I know Jesus heard your prayers.” Santa looked to his Savior and saw death waiting in the corner. “Momma said that we can have whatever we want in Jesus’ name,” said Rachel. “Rachel, Momma said it had to be good for us,” said Johnnie. “I asked Jesus to make us better, and we wanted to see you too.” “I know miracles happen at Christmas for special boys and girls. If you believe, you will get your Christmas wish,” said Santa. “Oh yes, I believe!” said the children. At that moment, death disappeared, and the Light of Christmas love filled the room. “Now I believe if you ask for milk to go with your cookies, everything will be just fine,” said Santa. Johnnie looked at Jesus, catching a glimpse of Him. “Thank you, Jesus, for answering our prayers and bringing Santa and Gingerbread Men cookies.” “Yes, thank you, Jesus,” said Rachel. Santa bowed before Jesus. “Yes, my Savior. Thank you for taking care of these precious children.” Santa left the hospital after giving them each the present he brought with him and went back to the North Pole. Johnnie and Rachel never forgot what happened that night, one Christmas long ago and every year they thanked Jesus for their health and left Gingerbread Men cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve night. Thank you for reading. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. The image belongs to me. A rock I painted for Christmas last year.