Told to Kathryn Tew by her father
PAUL liked the tinsel, the candy canes, the tiny drums and little stockings on the pretty lady's Christmas tree. But there was one ornament that he liked best of all. He pointed at it and said, "This is pretty, just like you."
She replied, "Thank you, Paul, for saying such a kind thing."
Christmas came and then it was gone. The pretty lady sadly took the candy canes, tiny drums, the little snowman, and all the other decorations off the tree and putt hem in boxes. Last of all she reached out and gently grasped the beautiful ornament. Then she sat down and held the glistening ornament close to her heart. She thought of Paul's kind words, "This is pretty, just like you." She said softly, "I will mail this ornament to Paul. He will be happy to have it."
Paul was very surprised when he came home from school and saw the box. He eagerly opened it and saw the beautiful ornament. He was excited because it was such a special gift.
Many years passed and Paul grew up. One happy day he married a girl that he loved with all his heart. The next year, just before Christmas, he showed his wife the ornament and told her the story of how the pretty lady gave it to him. Then they talked about their new baby that would soon be born. That night Paul dreamed that the pretty lady had become old and had gone to heaven. In his dream he saw an angel meet her there. The angel asked, "Would you like to work in our nursery?"
"Oh yes," said the pretty lady. "I love children."
The pretty lady looked at the little babies and felt happy to be in such a wonderful place. Looking at one child she said, "This baby looks like a boy I knew many years ago named Paul. I would love to see him again."
The angel in charge said to the two messenger angels, "Go find Paul for her."
"But," said the messenger angel, "how will we know him?"
The pretty lady replied, "It is Christmas time. On his tree you will see a beautiful Christmas ornament that seems to glow."
The angels said, "We will find it." And away they went.
In his dream Paul saw the angels look in his window. "There! There is the ornament!" One shouted. "That man must be Paul!" The angel quickly returned and said, "WE found him. His wife is going to have a baby."
Looking all around the nursery, the pretty lady said, "I must find just the right one for Paul." Finally she reached down at a most special baby. As she did, the little one smiled. The next morning Paul told his wife about the happy dream.
Three days after the baby was born, the grandparents, Aunt Susan, and cousin Angela came to call. "Oh my," they said. "This is such a special baby."
Paul and his wife smiled as they thought, "Of course it is a special baby. This baby was picked in heaven just for us!"
As the years passed, the pretty lady picked out other special babies for Paul and his wife. Sometimes in the evening Paul would read stories to the children. Mother would comb little Sarah's hair. They were a happy family.
Finally Paul was getting old. At Christmas time he thought, "I wonder, if I gave the magic ornament to the young couple down the street, would they also have special children?"
One winter night he left the ornament on their doorstep.
The young couple did have special children.
Later they gave the ornament to someone else. Today no one knows where the ornament is. No one that is except the pretty lady. She knows, and wherever it is she sends special children to live in that home.
Perhaps your family has the magic ornament. All in your family are very special, aren't they? I think that you must have it.
May the magic ornament be on your Christmas tree forever.
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