A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to
the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses.
The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of
the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had
become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside.
The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here but the city hustle and
bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different
life.
The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and
getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder but it gave them
a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each
year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at
day's end.
Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. "Why do
you not at least dispose of 'The Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's
been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you
can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything
but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"
The old man looked down at his worn boots,
holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes I could use a pair
of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near
with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We
keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."
Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry
Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The
old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear
fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the
peace of the love that filled their hearts?
So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation
smoldering on the frayed
wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking
at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to
his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But
the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to
the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help
cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.
By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and
the old man and his wife exhausted from their grief huddled together before the
barn. They were speechless as they rose from
the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was
nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white
head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a
frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared
our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the
old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon
our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved
most precious gifts that have been taken from us.
And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he
brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand. The journey
up the hill was hard for their old bodies in
the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill,
they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and
fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly,
every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering,
snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles.
And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass.
Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless
as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.
Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified,
he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in
resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and
glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night
light.
Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd,
safe.
At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led
the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had
led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were
frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling,
hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and
hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies,
pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety
beneath the pine. And now, she lay
among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife. Those she loved she
had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the
golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift---
Because of love. Only Because of love.
Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy, And again the peace of
love filled their hearts.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses.
The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of
the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had
become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside.
The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here but the city hustle and
bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different
life.
The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and
getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder but it gave them
a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each
year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at
day's end.
Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. "Why do
you not at least dispose of 'The Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's
been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you
can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything
but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"
The old man looked down at his worn boots,
holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes I could use a pair
of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near
with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We
keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."
Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry
Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The
old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear
fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the
peace of the love that filled their hearts?
So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation
smoldering on the frayed
wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking
at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to
his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But
the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to
the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help
cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.
By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and
the old man and his wife exhausted from their grief huddled together before the
barn. They were speechless as they rose from
the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was
nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white
head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a
frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared
our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the
old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon
our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved
most precious gifts that have been taken from us.
And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he
brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand. The journey
up the hill was hard for their old bodies in
the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill,
they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and
fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly,
every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering,
snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles.
And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass.
Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless
as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.
Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified,
he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in
resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and
glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night
light.
Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd,
safe.
At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led
the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had
led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were
frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling,
hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and
hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies,
pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety
beneath the pine. And now, she lay
among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife. Those she loved she
had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the
golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift---
Because of love. Only Because of love.
Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy, And again the peace of
love filled their hearts.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
