That Spark of Hope

A little girl lost her home this year, for her, Christmas wouldn't be there. Her family was angry from all the troubles, they simply couldn't repair. Don’t bother us about presents her parents said, they were depressed by their fate. With bitterness they said, you’d be lucky to have dinner tonight, or even a plate. Life was harsh, nowhere to go, anger and fear had put their souls, in a terrible place. The little girl had found no hope or joy, lurking near their old car, of late. The car was their home, gas money was scarce, and with few places they could park. Yes, their troubles had slowly extinguished, that precious hopeful spark. Without that spark, they’d never find their way, from this terrible place of cold and dark. And life’s darkness grew deeper nightly, as hope vanished under a reality so stark. Even the very fiber of her family, seemed to be shattering slowly, slowly, apart. The child felt alone here in this dark car, as sadness tried to engulf her little girls heart. The future seemed filled with hopelessness, as shame and dread, were leaving their mark. Embarrassment to be seen and turned away, made it hard for them to reach out, to restart. But life goes on, and we can’t fear to rebuild, or the future will be hard to impart. The girl suddenly declared there’s more to life, and she wouldn't let it conquer her heart. She decided triumphs will come, and all will get better, if she held to that hopeful spark. Seeing the desolation and anger here, she couldn't stay around, she had to get away… So she climbed out of the car, and she walked into town, not so very far to stray. She went and looked at the store windows, where Christmas was being displayed. The music and people filled her heart, lifting her spirits, deep inside, that day. She noticed a store, way down at the end of the row, on the next block, where it lay. No one was there, it seemed lonely, and the darkness was again, spreading it’s decay. She ran there in time to see an old man closing up, with sadness on his face betrayed. What use were his goods, if no one would shop, or come down along his way? The super store down the block, was daily making him lose more and more in the fray. He could no longer afford to hire people, and the season had very little time, to stay. As they talked the girl saw that she couldn't let the darkness take another, so she prayed. Then she told the old man, if he’d open the shop, she’d bring customers down his way. She added, she’d find reasonable workers, if her family could live upstairs, she portrayed. First bring the customers, he said, and the rest will be yours little friend, he conveyed. She had him put his best toys, as a contest prize, and to add lots of lights on the display. He set a contest, “Winners-the best collectors for families in need” on Christmas Eve. He put out a bright contest sign, but still nobody came to his end of the block, to survey. So she had him call the Salvation Army, for a kettle, Bell ringer, and Carolers, who came Lickety split, their way. Then she had him call a dear old friend, and farmer, to bring a tractor full of bails of hay. Another volunteered his horse and sleigh, both, to see the city lights thru New Years Day. This was a great idea, since the older drivers, could use the help, for their bills to pay. The girl ran all over spreading the excitement, and to come see the prizes, his way. The families suddenly started heading toward his door, and to those wondrous rides. At that moment her parents came, and she explained what her hope, had improvised. Her father talked a contractor into building a disabled family a home, to help advertise. He could get a tax break; come to this store for supplies, and hire unemployed workers, he devised, so wise. In the end, each night grew brighter, because of a girls hope, and heart-warming delight. And the old man began smiling for the first time, in a long, long, time, starting that night. All was saved, a home was found, and another built, as a sad little girl taught grownups to smile along the way… You might say, A Spark of Hope lit a candle, then a raging fire, which was burning bright by Christmas day. The moral to my story is: Never give up on Hope; it’s your best friend, as life brings its troubles your way… Know that with time, a good heart, good will, and friendly ways… You can find God’s gifts again, if you don’t let the dark take you away…