A Christmas Prayer

Long ago, two siblings, Noah and Sarah, were on a hunt to save Christmas. It all started when Sarah and Noah ran along the snow-covered boardwalk, like any other day. Until they came to the general store. They were just about to enter the store when they overheard Mom talking to the clerk about the stage couch. Sarah and Noah looked at each other, then marched into the store.
“The stage can’t come in? Why not?” Noah eagerly waited for an answer.
“There’s a huge storm some ways off from here; the stage can’t make it through the storm.” Brian, the store clerk, answered.
“What does that mean?” Sarah asked.
“It means all the stuff people bought for Christmas won’t make it hear in time.” Mom answered.
“What about Daddy? Won’t he be here for Christmas?” Sarah asked.
“I’m afraid not.” Mom brushed Sarah’s hair out of her eyes.
Noah looked down at his toes, fiddling his thumbs. What kind of Christmas would this be? No presents, no Christmas dinner . . . and no Dad for Christmas. Noah felt a deep sense of sadness in his heart.



For the rest of the day Noah was quiet. He sat on the front porch steps, petting his dog, until his sister Sarah came outside.
“What’s wrong Noah?” Sarah sat down beside the dog.
“You know I was thinking . . . Mom looked really sad when she heard the stage wasn’t coming.”
“I think she was sadder that Daddy can’t come home for Christmas.” Sarah mentioned.
“Yes, but don’t you think if we had supplies for a Christmas dinner she would be happier? I’m going to go to look for a turkey. I remember where Dad always goes hunting and it shouldn’t take me very long to find a turkey.”
“With what are you going to shoot it?” Sarah couldn’t believe her older brother would try something like this . . . and all by himself!
“With my sling shot.” Noah replied.