The Littlest Angel

Shortly after I reestablished my Internet...my laptop died. But the stars have aligned. All is well and here I am writing again. I'm crossing my fingers that it stays this way!

When I was a little girl, my favorite Christmas story was that of “The Littlest Angel”. It was an old Golden book that I had and oh, how I loved it. It was also made into a short TV movie. I have that movie and while the special effects are ancient and yes, even laughable compared to today, I still love the story.

The story is of a little shepard boy who dies suddenly and finds himself in Heaven. He is miserable and forlorn because Heaven isn't anything like he is used to. There are no trees to climb or sheep to herd or rocks to find. It seemingly has nothing to offer a young, active boy. He causes trouble because he just can't seem to get anything right...he doesn't fit in and he is homesick.

He is allowed to go back to earth to retrieve his “treasure box”. It is his most loved possession. He is in hopes that having that with him will ease his homesickness. He tries to talk to his parents but of course, they can't hear him.

He returns to Heaven with his simple box filled with the “treasures” of earth. The box holds a robin's egg, some feathers, a pretty rock and other such things that are indeed, treasures to a small boy. He is happy to have his box but still struggles to fit in and be like the other angels.

An announcement shakes up Heaven. The Son of God is about to be born. All of Heaven begins it's excited mission to prepare for this glorious event. Each angel is preparing beautiful gifts for the babe. The littlest angel is again forlorn. He has nothing to give to the Son of God. He is heartbroken.

At the last minute he thinks of his box. It is all he has. Should he give that to the Christ child? Yes. He places it with the other gifts. It has never looked so plain...so shabby...so simple as when placed among the exquisite gifts of the other angels. He is ashamed. Why did he do it?! The other angels are looking at him. He begins to slink away.

Then...the most amazing thing happens...God picks up his simple offering and declares it the best present of all...it was given in love...it was given in sacrifice...it was truly a gift of the heart. God explains that it holds the wonders of earth, the treasures that His Son will also experience and love. He states that as the best gift it will become very special indeed...God turns the shabby treasure box of a small shepard boy into the Christmas Star...the new star that declares to the entire world that Jesus Christ is born.

This is the season that we celebrate that birth in all it's wonders. We give gifts, go to parties, concerts, etc. We endure the crowds, spend time with family and friends, bake cookies, sing songs and do so many other things that mean Christmas to us. But the most important gifts of Christmas will always be those of the heart...given in love...perhaps with some sacrifice involved. Gifts of time, service, caring and thoughtfulness are the true gifts we can give. Those are the gifts that best celebrate the gift God gave us ...the gift of His Only Begotten Son.

That's the view from my side of the street, what's yours?