A Christmas
Orange
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B
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en lived in an orphanage with
nine other children, They didn't have
very many nice things—only a few toys that were very old and one blanket for
each of their beds—and oftentimes there was very little to eat. Ben's favorite time of year was
Christmas. At Christmastime there always
seemed to be more food to eat, and the streets were filled with happy people
singing carols and ringing bells. But
Ben's favorite thing about Christmas was getting out the old wooden
Nativity.
Ben loved the
Wise Men with their fine clothes and the shepherds' sheep, but most of all he
love the faces of Mary and Joseph as they looked at baby Jesus. They were humble and filled with peace and
love for this beautiful baby.
Another favorite
thing for all the children at the orphanage was the Christmas orange they
received on Christmas Eve. The children
would save
the oranges for several days so
they could enjoy the feel and smell of
them. Then they would break them open and enjoy the
sweetness of the treat they had waited for all year long.
On Christmas Day
Ben broke one of the orphanage rules. He
was sent to his bed, and his precious orange was taken away. That night he sat very lonely on his bed and
cried as he said a little prayer to say he was sorry. In the darkness he lay crying quietly, and
then he felt a soft small hand touch his shoulder. Something was quickly put into his hand. As Ben opened his hand he found an orange—a
beautiful Christmas orange like none other he had ever received, for it was
made up of nine sections from nine other Christmas oranges. At that moment Ben felt the peace and love
that shone in the faces of little Mary and Joseph in the Nativity.
May we all share a part of
ourselves this wonderful Christmas season!
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