A Christmas Story

In the next few weeks there will be many "Christmas" stories besides the story of the stable in Bethlehem. Most "Christmas" stories will have little to do with what actually happened there in that little town 2000 years or so ago. This is a story told by Paz, one of our church members.

Paz works in the largest and oldest department store in Funchal, and of course, from now until Christmas Eve, she and her colleagues will have more and more customers to deal with, some of whom are a real test of the store employees' patience.

Today, when Paz was totaling up a customer's purchases of Christmas decorations, probably for a Nativity scene, the lady asked Paz for a good discount "because it was for God." Without a second's hesitation, Paz replied, "God doesn't need this. What He wants are repentant hearts!"

"What!?!" exclaimed the customer, in confusion. She had no clue what Paz was talking about. Later a colleague of Paz's wanted to know what she had meant by that statement. Paz simply said, "When things slow down, ask me about it and I'll tell you." That will be the real Christmas story.