ABrotherLikeThat

　　AfriendofminenamedPaulreceivedanautomobilefromhisbrotherasaChristmaspresent.OnChristmasEvewhenPaulcameoutofhisoffice,astreeturchinwaswalkingaroundtheshinynewcar,admiringit.

　　"Isthisyourcar,Mister?"hesaid.

　　Paulnodded."MybrothergaveittomeforChristmas."Theboywasastounded."Youmeanyourbrothergaveittoyouanditdidn’tcostyounothing?Boy,Iwish..."Hehesitated.

　　OfcoursePaulknewwhathewasgoingtowishfor.Hewasgoingtowishhehadabrotherlikethat.ButwhattheladsaidjarredPaulallthewaydowntohisheels.

　　"Iwish,"theboywenton,"ThatIcouldbeabrother

　　likethat."

　　Paullookedattheboyinastonishment,thenimpulsivelyheadded,"Wouldyouliketotakearideinmycar?"

　　"Ohyes,Idlovethat."

　　Afterashortride,theboyturnedwithhiseyesaglow,said,"Mister,wouldyouminddrivinginfrontofmyhouse?"

　　Paulsmiledalittle.Hethoughtheknewwhattheladwanted.Hewantedtoshowhisneighborsthathecouldridehomeinabigautomobile.ButPaulwaswrongagain."Willyoustopwherethosetwostepsare?"theboyasked.

　　Heranupthesteps.TheninalittlewhilePaulheardhimcomingback,buthewasnotcomingfast.Hewascarryinghislittlecrippledbrother.Hesathimdownonthebottomstep,thensortofsqueezedupagainsthimandpointedtothecar.

　　"Theresheis,Buddy,justlikeItoldyouupstairs.HisbrothergaveittohimforChristmasanditdidn’tcosthimacent.AndsomedayImgonnagiveyouonejustlikeit...thenyoucanseeforyourselfalltheprettythingsintheChristmaswindowsthatIvebeentryingtotellyouabout."

　　Paulgotoutandliftedtheladtothefrontseatofhiscar.Theshining-eyedolderbrotherclimbedinbesidehimandthethreeofthembeganamemorableholidayride.ThatChristmasEve,PaullearnedwhatJesusmeantwhenhesaid:"Itismoreblessedtogive..."