The story of the
Littlest Christmas Tree...
Littlest Christmas Tree...
(It’s true... and it happened in Cannon Falls. Originally printed in the Beacon in 1979.
Now on Youtube - The Miracle of the Littlest Christmas tree http://youtu.be/KNwpn71M5Ds)
The little pine tree sat in the city sales lot among many bigger and prettier Christmas trees. Its trunk was crooked and shoppers pushed it aside in their search for the “perfect” tree to bring home and decorate for the holiday.
One family was particularly sad that year because Grandpa had just died. But they went on with the motions of preparing for the holidays.
And they bought a tree for their home.
No cheering up…
But what about Grandma? Her home was so empty without Grandpa. Maybe a tree would cheer her up.
But by that time there was only the rather scraggly crooked pine tree left that would fit the purpose. They took it.
But when they brought it to Grandma they saw that she was too heartbroken to have a real tree that year.
She only wanted the miniature artificial tree that one of the children had brought to Grandpa when he was in the hospital.
And so, the little pine tree was put aside... again.
But that’s not the end of the story!
The family left Grandma and went back home.
They tried to give away the little pine tree but it seemed everyone already had a tree. But there just had to be a place for it!
Then they thought of a small church nearby. The sanctuary was already decorated with a huge Christmas tree.
But a large room used for the Sunday School classes was empty. So why not set up the little tree here?
The children could decorate it. And they did.
But that’s still not the end of the story.
For Christmas Day came... bright and cold.
Especially cold.
The church’s furnace had gone out during the night.
The sanctuary was freezing.
But the auxiliary heater in the Sunday School room had kept on perking. And that was the only warm place in the whole church!
And do you know where the Christmas Service was held?
In that room!
And do you know which tree was all lit up and glowing for the entire congregation?
Of course!
And it was a beautiful tree!
I know this story is true because I helped pick out the tree.
And I think it was really two miracles…
One was having a decorated tree for the Christmas Service and the other was seeing the beauty in something others had rejected.
And miracles like this will never end...
as long as you and I look for them...
every day of the year!
