My son Jacob’s favorite Christmas song is The Christmas Shoes.
I was stunned to find out that this song was listed as one of the 52 most depressing Christmas songs ever.
What?
Okay – yes, I usually cry when I hear the song, but I cry because it inspires me.
Yes, the story is sad and one that we can all imagine…maybe that’s it, because we can imagine it happening, it is just a little too real to us…and we don’t want to think about things like this.
It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin’ to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing ’round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn’t believe what I heard him say
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, “Son, there’s not enough here”
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I’ve got to buy her these Christmas shoes
So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I’ll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama’s gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there’s not much time
You see she’s been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
I knew I’d caught a glimpse of heaven’s love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about
A little boy with a dying parent facing Christmas, and only thinking about his mother…not himself. A child getting ready to lose something very important to the foundation of who he is. A child who is scared at the prospects tomorrow will hold. A child who will never remember Christmas without remembering the death of his mother again. A child that is unselfish in his love and is exuding courage.
Who do we know that is hurting? Who do we know that is facing tragedy or heartache during this season? We believe that is unfair for trials and tragedies to strike on the holidays, but they do…and there are many out there looking for hope, looking for love, looking for compassion and understanding.
Jacob likes this song because he likes to help people. His life goals are to be a missionary, but he isn’t waiting until he is “old” enough by our terms, he is helping people now. I watch him walk up to waitresses and hug them because he says he could feel their sadness. He smiles, he helps, he shares his heart with others, all the while sharing the love of Christ.
Had Jacob been the man in the store, it wouldn’t have taken him two seconds to buy the shoes, take the boy out and get him cleaned up, go to the hospital and help he family anyway he could. Unfortunately, I can’t admit that I would do the same.
We find this song depressing because we refuse to help when we know we can. We walk by the Salvation Army and act as if we have nothing to give. We don’t buy gifts for Toys for Tots, or other toy drives hosted by organizations in our areas. Do we really reach out to the poor and hurting this time of year?
This season challenge yourself. Buy one extra gift and give it away. Seek out someone to help, to love, to feed into their lives, and understand the miracle of the Christmas Shoes, and the true meaing behind its story.
The Christmas Shoes by NewSong
More From Dawn
Only $12
Let's Get Healthy Together!
I would never have considered that a depressing song! I tear up too when I hear it, but it’s because the song paints such a beautiful picture.
There are so many wonderful ways we can give of ourselves and help others at Christmastime. Over the past several months, I had the privilege of compiling several personal Christmas stories into a beautiful ebook called Saving Christmas. The purpose of the book was to remind people of the real meaning behind Christmas, and how they can rediscover it for themselves.
Many of the submissions I published were stories just like that – celebrating Christmas by giving to others, or serving others. There was even a beautiful story about how a mysterious “Phantom Santa” helped save Christmas spirit for one family who was going through a difficult time. There were so many other ideas too, of how we can rediscover Christmas by giving to others. Which was the whole idea in the first place.
If you like, there is a free sample of the book available on my website.