The Giving Tree by Megan Payne

Author:Megan Payne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: family, jesus, giving, christmas tree, christmas short stories, holiday stories, christmas traditions
Publisher: Sunlight Books

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Meanwhile, during this story was another story, for their mama, Estrella, had braved the cold much earlier to go get food, intending whole-heartedly to be back in an hour, just in time for Christmas dinner. But things did not go as she planned.

She arrived at the baker’s on schedule with the great basket under her arm and asked him for her bread.

“El pan?” the baker asked, with a worried, nervous expression. He furrowed his brows and crinkled his forehead.

Estrella nodded. “Yes, my bread.”

He shook his head and wiped a sleeve across his forehead. “I’m so sorry, Señora, but the weather so cold, the stove was not as warm,” he explained anxiously with a heavy accent. “My bread still baking.”

Estrella closed her eyes to stay calm, then looked at the sweating baker. “I’ll wait,” she said and sat in one of the little wicker chairs next to the counter.

The man nodded quickly and turned back to his oven. His whole body seemed to be trembling. Estrella noticed and frowned.

“Is something wrong?” she asked him.

“Oh no,” he answered over his shoulder. “Your bread be done soon.”

“No, not with the bread,” she said gently. “Is something wrong with you, or your family? Is someone ill?”

“Oh no, Señora,” he replied, turning around. He was bent over slightly as if under a heavy burden. “No, not ill.”

“Well, what?”

He looked up with a weak, trembling smile. “It’s my daughter, Violeta.” His smile faded into the look of a man near tears. “She is coming home and she has been gone five years. She says she has her own boy now, and she is poor.” He stopped as though he could no longer speak.

“Yes?”

“Well,” he continued slowly and haltingly, “she be poor and has little to keep warm, and no food to give her strength, not even God to turn to.” Then, he covered his face with his hand. “She’ll be walkingif she makes it.”

Estrella listened carefully, remembering that the baker was just a new Christian, new in the faith, and his daughter, Violeta, would not have been there to know. Then she did something only Estrella would do. Instead of comforting the old man, she reached out to touch his shoulder and told him firmly, “We must pray.”

He uncovered his face and looked at her with hope in his eyes. “But, she not believe. Can my faith cover her also?”

Estrella shook her head. “It is not your faith that may cover her, but your prayers. God will hear the prayers of His children, and answer.” She folded her arms on the counter. “A father may always pray for his daughter.”

The man nodded, grateful tears forming in his eyes. They both stopped and bowed their heads.

“Dear God our Father,” Estrella prayed aloud, “we, Señor Gonzales and I, pray for Your holy protection of Violeta. Oh God, be her strength. Let her find sustenance and shelter, and guide her steps this way that she might arrive safely. And Lord,” she raised her voice on this note, “let her find You this Christmas, that she might know You for herself.

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