The Missing Piece

I heard this story last Christmas and thought it was worth sharing

In a little German village there was an old experienced Toy Maker. At the start of December he placed a hand crafted Nativity Scene is his store window, immediately this drew peoples attention. The details were so intricate it must have taken him months to hand carve all the details on Mary and Josephs faces, the hairs on the donkey, the fleece on the sheep. The stable was incredible almost a perfect replica of what we all imagine that stable to look like.

The word quickly spread through the village and people started to gather at his window to look at this set. The local accountant came into the store and said he simply must buy this Nativity Set how much would it cost but the old toymaker said it was not for sale. Then the school principal came in and asked how much again to the same response it is not for sale. This continued over the coming weeks people flocking to see the display in the window, and people asking how much it would cost to buy. It seemed with every passing day the old toymaker got sadder and sadder, the locals couldn't work out was was upsetting him. People were crowding around his store window and browsing through his shop, but nothing could get him to smile.

The village was starting to close up for Christmas early on Christmas Eve when the toymaker heard someone enter his store, he moved to the front to see a young boy probably about seven standing at the front counter. The toymaker asked how he could help the youngster and the boy replied he didn't want anything but wanted to let the toymaker know he had made a big mistake. The toymaker lifted his head and enquired what the boy meant, the boy then stated "the Nativity Scene in your window is lovely but you have left out the most important part, the baby Jesus is missing." The old toymaker started to weep as he walked over to his workbench opened the top drawer and pulled out the hand carved baby Jesus. He explained to the boy that he was waiting for someone to notice but no-one had,and everyday he had felt more depressed about the fact that no-one had realised that Baby Jesus was missing. He then told the boy the Nativity Scene was his for free, and wrapped it and placed it in a bag for the boy to take home.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that as the season gets so busy and you get caught up in all the tinsel and presents that you would still remember to place the Baby Jesus at the centre of your celebrations, and remember the greatest present ever given for Christmas.