13 The Shop Window



The Shop Window

A young lad of about ten years old was standing in front of the shoe shop. He was barefooted peering longingly through the window at all the shoes. He was obviously feeling the cold.

A lady approached the boy and spoke to him. "My lad, why are you looking so longingly into this shop window?"  The reply came after a little thought, "I was praying to God to give me a pair of shoes like those in there."

The lady took his hand and led him into the shop. She asked the lady who was serving for half a dozen pairs of woollen socks that would fit the young lad. She then asked if it would be possible to get some warm water and a towel. She brought those to her, and she proceeded to wash the young boys’ feet and put on one of the pairs of socks. 

Then having dried his feet and put on the socks purchased a pair of strong sturdy looking shoes. The shoes were put on and laced up. He was given the other five pairs of socks in a bag. The lady patted him on the head and said, "I hope you feel much more comfortable now?"

As she turned to leave, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question about his comfort with these words. "Are you God's Wife?"

This is a true tale, and the young lad grew up to be a fine man who spent much of his time trying to help the poor. Little acts of kindness can grow into lives of giving.





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