You helped me to experience Christmas

Do you have a manger? Let me ask you again, do you have a manger? Have you ever looked into another person?s manger? Let me share with you how Jeremy answered the question when asked: Have you ever looked into another person?s manger?

I was walking home from school one day when I noticed a boy ahead of me had tripped and dropped all the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball hat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Seeing this, I knelt down and helped him pick up all the things he had dropped. Since he was going the same way I was going, I helped him carry the things he had dropped. As we walked together I discovered that his name was Bill and that he loved video games, baseball and history. I also learned that he was having trouble with several of his studies in school. And along with that I learned that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. When we got to his house he invited me in for a Coke and to watch TV with him. That afternoon we laughed and talked a lot. After a couple of hours I went home.

I continued to see Bill around the school for the next couple of years. We also had lunch together on a couple of occasions. But a week before graduation, Bill stopped me to talk with him. At that time he reminded me of the day I helped him pick up his books, sweater and tape recorder. He then asked me, ?Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?? He then told me that he had cleaned out his locker because he didn?t want to leave a mess for anyone else. He then said, ?You see, I was planning on taking my life, but after you stopped to help me and after we spent some time together talking and laughing I realized that if I killed myself I would have missed time.? He then said, ?When you picked up my books that day, you entered into my manger. You entered the darkness of my manger where others were not willing to come. Because of that you helped me see and understand the Christmas story better. You helped me see the importance of Jesus being born in the manger ? my manger ? my darkness ? my heartache ? and other people?s mangers and darkness.?