Encouragement

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A Little Christmas Story
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson

For United States Army Sergeant First Class Casey Barber, Christmas morning 2007 was a glorious beginning to a glorious day as he was able to share some of his more memorable Christmases with some of the memorable Christmases with those attending the candlelight services arranged by Chaplain Harvey Keith. Following services, a number of soldiers reported that the Christmas story changed their lives forever as they were informed of their departure from Iraq within 90 days. Sergeant Barber told them the following little Christmas story.

Before the Battle for Fallujah, a service member Sergeant Barber befriended lost a leg during the action. Due to his loss, he was given an honorable discharge. Despite his discharge, he and Sergeant Barber remained in contact with each other by e-mail for years.

The injured veteran had had five surgeries with a prosthetic leg to give him mobility. In spite of his medical treatments and physical therapy he did not walk very well and was embarrassed to involve himself socially. Even during his active military career he had been a loner staying mostly to himself. Eventually the veteran was asked to become involved in military related activities; he declined refusing to give a reason.

The injury the veteran sustained, however, did not affect his artistic endeavor—his known passion. Though he grieved his loss, he remained home day and night painting. His talent was exposed when his visiting social worker and physical therapist noticed his paintings. They, without coercion, invited the veteran to St. Jude Hospital.

Reluctant, at first, he visited St. Jude’s on a Christmas Eve with the social worker by his side. After the formalities, the veteran was allowed to visit any child he wished while the social worker visited one of her clients. On her return, the veteran and a young cancer patient were busy involved in pencil sketches. Their heads were bent over the patient’s sketch book. The veteran was giving the child directions with patience as well as continuous encouragement to try harder.

As the veteran and social worker prepared to leave for the separate Christmas celebrations, weather reports indicated a raging ice and snow storm blocked then brought to a complete halt traffic in and around the area. As the veteran was preparing to spend Christmas Day in the hospital, he spoke up to the social worker: “Working with that kid was something I’ve always wanted to do but I was scared to so because I did not know what people would think of me. So I just stayed at home or stayed to myself. Because of the weather, I had to celebrate the Birth of Christ with a kid who looked up to me. I can’t let him down! The kid needs me! He’s really a great kid! I also learned something too…I think I need him as well. I’m not married and I have no kids. Kids can be kinda fun! You know.” The social worker had no response just a smile and a tear.

Christmas stories and their messages are many and varied. The veteran, since his Christmas visit to St. Jude Hospital, visited the hospital many times since to bring smiles and untold happiness to children whose smiles were far and few in between. His story is one of many of the ways Christ influences daily lives. Each visit the veteran made was full of enthusiasm and purpose. As he gave more and more time to St. Jude Hospital his prior life was changed. He had been heard to say: “That St. Jude’s Christmas Day visit was the greatest in my life!”

Christmas Day will come and go and be just another day if we never receive the meaning of His coming—to serve and save. When we do His work on His behalf, we will be able to add to our most memorable Christmases and we will be blessed. On Christmas Day and those we are permitted to know and participate in ask yourself this question: “How will I serve and adore Him?”

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