A Christmas Story
by Deborah Austin

In December 1994, two American missionaries visited an orphanage in Russia where they recounted the story of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. It was the first time the children had heard the story of Christmas.

They sat in rapt attention, on the edge of their stools, concentrating on every word. The children were then given pieces of cardboard and felt to construct a manger. As the young artists worked, the missionaries and teacher walked around the room to observe their handiwork.

They could not help but notice that one little boy named Misha had cut out two babies for his manger. When asked why, he crossed his arms and began to tell the story in great detail.

By the time he got to the birth of the baby Jesus, he had begun to interject himself into the story. “And when Mary laid Jesus in the manger,” Misha said, “Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him that I have no mama and I have no papa, so I don’t have a place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. I told him that I couldn’t because I did not have a gift to give him like the shepherds and the Wise Men. I wanted so much to stay with Jesus. Then, I thought, maybe if I keep him warm that will be a good gift, so I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift for you?’  And Jesus told me, ‘That will be the best gift of all.’ So, I got into the manger. Jesus then looked at me, and he said I could stay with him always.”

Misha’s eyes filled with tears, and putting his hands over his face, he sat down at the table and cried. He had found someone who would never abandon him or abuse him, someone who would stay with him, for always.