"A Very Young Angel"

I trust you will enjoy this sweet little Christmas story by Pat Leonard.

     "John was almost five years old that Christmas.  He did not have a part in the school Christmas pageant, but was just one of the many children in the Kindergarten class choir.  As the children gathered in the assembly room at school for the program, the teachers were busy with preparations and the costumes of those chosen to be Mary and Joseph and the angels, shepherds, and wise men.  No one noticed a  little boy go out the door into the hall.

      John had heard the Baby!  There was to be a Baby -- he knew that.  And he had heard him.  Down the dark hall was the way he had to go.  As he walked, John wondered why God didn't send the star, and then he remembered.  The star wasn't for him.  It was really for the shepherds and the wise men, and he wasn't anybody important like that.  He'd have to be very brave and go alone to find the Baby.  He turned the corner cautiously.

      At the far end of the hall, John saw a light coming from a doorway.  Then he heard the Baby's cry more clearly.  He knew then where to go.
      Mary Meadowcraft knelt beside the brown beanbag chair her husband, Joe, had brought to school for his sixth-grade reading corner as she put young Jeffrey down to rest.  He was normally a contented baby.  Had she known he would cry like this, she would have stayed at home with him instead of coming to school with Joe to see the pageant.

      The sudden presence of so many eager children must have frightened Jeffrey, for he began crying almost immediately and would not be stilled.  At least the program would not be long.  Mary had decided to wait here in Joe's classroom with the baby so his crying would not disturb anyone.
      Suddenly Mary was startled to hear a little voice questioning, 'Are you Mary'?
      'Why, yes, I am,' she answered with amazement!  'Do I know you'?
      'I came to see your Baby', said John,  'I didn't know He ever cried like that', he added softly.
      'Jeffrey is just frightened to be in a strange place,'
      'Hi', John said as he too knelt down beside the baby.  'I'm John.  I'm not a wise man or anything, but they couldn't come.

      The baby stopped crying immediately and turned to look at John.  Mary remained perfectly still, her mouth drawn into an astonished 'Oh'!
      'I forgot to bring you something, little Jeffrey Jesus.'  Then John smiled.  'I know what I can give you.  I'll sing you a song that we've been practicing.  I know all the words'
      By now John's parents had come searching for him.  They were stopped in the doorway, however, by the sight of Mary and her Baby listening to John's gift of song:

      Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
               And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.

      The Baby beamed at the singing child, while the three adults, their hearts full of wonder, saw a glimpse of a very young angel that night."

Jesus said ...Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of  God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."