Article in Stretton Focus, December 2015
At this time of the year I am reminded of Leo Tolstoy’s short story, Papa Panov’s Special Christmas.
It was Christmas Eve and Papa Panov, the village shoemaker, was closing his shop. In the street outside there were sounds of happiness and smells of Christmas cooking in the air. They reminded him of past Christmas times when his wife had still been alive and his own children little. He put up the shutters, settled down in his chair and took down the family bible to read the Christmas story once again. He thought about Jesus’ birth and what gift he may have given. Stretching up into a cupboard he took down a pair of beautiful new leather shoes. Yes, that’s what he would have given.
He fell asleep and dreamed that Jesus said that he would visit him on Christmas Day; but would not be easily recognised.
On Christmas morning he awoke, remembered the vivid dream, and decided to look carefully at everyone in the street. There was only a scruffy road sweeper working in freezing conditions. Papa Panov invited him into his house for coffee and food. The road sweeper was touched by Papa Panov’s kindness, and left thanking him and blessing him. Scouring the streets again Papa Panov looked for someone who resembled the Jesus in his dream. He saw no one but just as he was about to close his door he saw a young girl carrying what looked like a small baby, walking close to the houses to avoid the worst of the weather. He invited her in for a hot drink and offered milk for the baby. As he did so he warmed the baby’s bare feet by the stove. The young mother explained that she couldn’t afford shoes for her baby and that she was on her way to the next village to seek work. Suddenly Papa Panov remembered the little shoes he had looked at last night before he went to bed. He had been keeping these special beautiful shoes for Jesus.
He looked again at the baby’s cold little feet and made up his mind . . .
As we celebrate the Festive season will you recognise Jesus?
David Hill