Reprint: Christmas Gift

On Christmas Eve, the crowds in the streets became less crowded. "Thank God, today's business is really good!" After a busy day, Mr. and Mrs. Smith gave away the last customer who bought shoes at a shoe store and sighed heartily. Through the brightly lit lights, can clearly see the couple forehead between the excitement and joy.

Mr. Smith went to the door, ready to move the door that was unloaded in the morning. He suddenly stopped in front of a glass window with all kinds of shoes-through the glass, he found a pair of children's eyes.

Mr. Smith hurried over to look carefully: this is a poor boy picking cinder, cold red feet wearing a pair of very unsuitable big shoes, filled with coal ash shoes have already "riddled with holes." He saw Mr. Smith approaching himself, looking away from the beautifully crafted shoes in the window, staring at the shoe-shop owner, with an inexplicable hope in his eyes.

Mr. Smith leaned and kindly asked, "Merry Christmas, My dear boy, may I help you?"

The boy long time to say: "I am begging God to give me a pair of suitable shoes, sir, can you help me to convey this wish to him?" I'll thank you!

Mrs. Smith, who was packing, had come over and looked at the child up and down, then pulled her husband aside and said, "Is this poor boy, or will you agree to his request?" Mr Smith shook his head and said, "No, what he needs is not a pair of shoes, dear, you bring a pair of the best cotton socks in the window, and a basin of lukewarm water, OK?" Mrs. Smith went out with a puzzled face.

Mr. Smith soon returned to the boy and told the boy, "Congratulations, son, I have told God what you think, and there will be an answer soon." The child's face began to smile with excitement.

As the water came, Mr. Smith moved a small stool and motioned the child to sit down, and then took off the dusty shoes of the boy's feet. He put the boy cold purple feet into the warm water, rubbing, earnest, said: "Child, really sorry, you want a pair of shoes, God did not promise you, he said, can not give you a pair of shoes, but should give you a pair of socks." "The smiling face of the boy suddenly froze, disappointed eyes full of puzzled."

Mr. Smith hastened to add: "Don't worry, son, you listen to me to understand." Every one of us is begging for God in our hearts, but he can't give us a good thing, just as everyone wants to pursue a treasure, but God can only give us a spade or a treasure map, and to get the real treasure we need to dig it ourselves. Believe in yourself, the future will be a bright ah!

When I was a child, I begged God to give me a shoe store, but God gave me a shoe-making tool, but I always believed that with this set of tools and good use of it, I could get everything I wanted. More than 20 years later, I have worked as a shoeshine boy, apprentice, shoemaker, shoe designer ... Today, I have not only the most luxurious shoe store on the street, but also a beautiful wife and a happy family. Child, you too, as long as you take this pair of socks to find your dream shoes, never give up, then you will certainly succeed. In addition, God let me specifically told you: he gives you more than anyone, as long as you are not afraid of failure, not afraid to pay! "

Foot Wash, the boy thoughtfully from the Smith and the hands of the "God" gave his socks, like to catch a mission, out of the shop door. He took a few steps forward and looked back at the shoe store, and the Smiths were waving to him, "Remember God's Word, boy! You will succeed, we wait for your good news!" While the boy nodded, he vanished in the night with brisk steps.

Flash more than 30 years later, another Christmas, the septuagenarian Smith, who opened the door in the morning, received a letter from a stranger who wrote:

Dear Sir and Madam:

Do you remember that Christmas Eve more than 30 years ago, the guy who picked up cinder? He begged God to give him a pair of shoes, but God gave him no shoes, but he gave him something more valuable than gold and a pair of socks. It was such a pair of socks that activated his life of self-confidence and unyielding! Such help is more important than any compassionate charity, giving a pair of socks and letting him find the shoes of his dreams, which is your great wisdom.

Heartfelt thanks to you, good and wise Sir and madam. He took your socks and found the most valuable shoes for him-he became the first Republican president of the United States.

I am the poor boy.

At the end of the letter is the signature: Abraham Lincoln!

Reprint: Christmas Gift