STORY CORNER : The baby in the manger and God’s perfect child

Last year, John Gasagure could not wait but make a lot of plans for the festive season. He is thirteen years old and all grown up. He never stopped loving Christmas because he loved the story of the baby in the manger who grew up into a great man. Christmas was approaching and he told everyone what he wanted to get as a present. John always dreamt about all the gifts he would get for Christmas. He expected everyone to give him what he had asked. He was anxious to go to the village because he loved celebrating Christmas with his country friends. John’s mother did not stop him from going but she simply told him to do some cleaning around the house before he set off for his journey. However, John thought he had grown up and did not have to do any cleaning. He knew his parents would never stop him from going to the village because they loved him so much. But John did not understand that love was not only about getting gifts. He did not know that love also meant obeying what his parents told him to do. John refused to listen to his parents and did not clean up his room and his wash his clothes. His mother never thought of spanking John for his actions because she thought of a different way of disciplining him. She waited for John to finish his packing. When John came and asked for his transport on Christmas Eve, his parents said they would give it to him if the clothes he packed were clean. John said it did not matter whether his clothes were clean or dirty. All he wanted was to have his Christmas in the village. His parents told him he could not wear dirty clothes on Christmas day. This meant that John could not travel because even if he washed his clothes that day, they would not dry in time for him to pack them. John did not believe his ears! How could his parents do such a thing to him? He was angry and he started crying. John did not want to talk to his father and mother because he thought this would make them change their mind. He realized that the decision was final and he thought about his actions. He realized that he had misbehaved and he was sorry. In the afternoon John decided to clean his room and washed his Christmas clothes. Early in the morning on Christmas day, John honestly told his parents that he was sorry for disobeying them. He promised to be clean and listen to what they told him. His parents were glad that John had learnt his lesson. On that Christmas day, John knew his parents loved him when they corrected him. They had a great and happy celebration. John’s Christmas lesson was to be obedient, humble and gentle like the baby in the manger. He knew that if he did this, he would become a great man one day, like God’s perfect son. Ends