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by Toni Star
Henry and Harriett McGreedy knew that Christmas dinner this year would be like all the others, catered! In fact, neither one of them could recall their mother, Hazel, ever cooking a real Christmas dinner. For years, all dinners had been brought in and it looked like nothing but catered, for the future. This year Harriett and Henry decided to take matters into their hands, they would go on a “catered food strike!” Rebellion was in the air! They wanted a real home cooked meal and that was that!
The children spoke to their father, Harold about getting Hazel, their mother to make a real home-cooked meal for Christmas. Harold shoke his head, knowing his wife never, ever cooked anything bigger than bacon and eggs or a quick mix pizza. Hazel hated cooking and made sure everyone knew it! Harold tried explaining this to the children but finally advised them to ask their mother. Maybe, just maybe, she would relent, he thought.
Henry and Harriett thought over their father’s advice and after mulling it over, the children decided that rather than face their mother’s wrath; they would endure another brought-in meal.
Christmas Day arrived and at noon the caterers were at their front door, ringing the doorbell. The sound, to the children, ushered in doom---“catered doom!” Their mother, Hazel sat at the head of the dinner table ready and eager to be served, while the children and their father sat on either side of the table, attentive to her needs. The children nibbled some of the food laid out before them. A huge turkey sat smack dab in the middle of the table. It weighed about 20 pounds, the children guessed. Dressing, cranberries and desert surrounded the huge turkey and on a serving tray close to Hazel sat four different and huge desserts, cheesecake with whipped cream, being one. It wasn’t long before Henry and Harriett lost all interest in the dinner and left to watch TV.
In the afternoon, Hazel wanted to go to the Mall to see if any stores might be open so she could exchange some gifts she received. She often didn’t like what people got her, especially some of her snooty friends, and returned the gifts for another item or just “cold, hard cash.” So, it wasn’t long after dinner that Harold packed his family into their brand new station wagon and all were on their way. This time he used a short cut, going down some side streets. Henry and Harriett looked through the car windows and realized their father was driving through a bad part of town. They became frightened and nervous. What would happen to them if their car broke down?
“Hurry up, father! Drive faster!” they both cried
“What are we doing in this part of town anyway, Harold? ‘You know that this is a dangerous area, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do dear, he answered. ‘I want all of you to see something very important before we go to the Mall.”
Slowly Harold pulled into a winding, gravel driveway and stopped. In front of them was an old, two-story brick building, all run down.
“I want the children to come with me,” he said, getting out of the car
“Where are we going, father?” Harriett was anxious. This was something the family had never done before.
“We are going to take the remains of our Christmas dinner to the people who live in this shelter. Every year, your mother orders more than we can eat and every year I bring what’s left over, here for these people to enjoy. This year I thought you might like to help me.”
The children looked at each other, puzzled and Hazel sat in the car listening to her husband with an astonished and surprised look on her face. She thought out loud, “ So that’s where the leftover’s go!”
“That’s right, Hazel. So, children let’s go!”
As the children followed their father into the shelter, they saw many people waiting for them. Never before had the children seen people who had so little to eat and who looked so tired, poor and hungry. All of their lives Harriett and Henry had everything they wanted. Today their father brought them face to face with an entirely different world. For the first time in their young lives, they learned what Christmas and sharing was all about.
They finally understood what their father told that night when they got home from the shelter, that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35. For Harriett and Henry, Christmas would never be the same, for they would always remember the smiles and joy of the people in the shelter. Brother and sister finally had a wonderful Christmas and so did the people of the shelter!
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