across her brow, “and yet . . . I think I am starting to see Edith’s point.”
And just like that, the attitude in the room began to shift and transform until not only was the board willing to pay for all the mechanical expenses and new tires, but Helen was talking about giving an impromptu baby shower for Amy.
“But they’ll be leaving soon,” protested Olive. “There’ll be no reason for them to stick around once their bus is running.”
“Then we’ll have to jump right on it,” said Helen with excitement. “I’ll bet you that they don’t have a single thing for that baby. Do they, Edith?”
Edith held up her hands. “I really don’t know. But I guess I could find out.”
“Right,” said Helen. “You find out and call me first thing in the morning. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the rest.”
Edith’s heart and heels were happy as she and Charles walked across the street later on that night. “It’s just so amazing,” she told him. “I don’t ever remember the board being so generous, so quickly, before.”
He squeezed her hand. “Well, you made a beautiful plea, dear. I don’t know how they could’ve turned their backs after what you said.”
“Do you think it sounded crazy?” she ventured. “I mean the part about them possibly being angels or even our Lord? Goodness, I don’t want everyone to think that I’m losing my marbles.”
“No, I think it sounded very tenderhearted and compassionate. And who knows? Maybe they are angels unaware.”
Snowflakes were starting to fall again as Edith paused on the sidewalk to look over to where the bus was parked. For a few seconds she just stared and wondered. Wouldn’t it be like God to send angels in a funny old vehicle like that—so quirky and unexpected? So unlike anything that humans would think of doing. But hadn’t it been like that when the Lord Jesus was born in a humble barn? And as she went to sleep that night, she felt a deep and comforting sense of peace, as if she really was on the right track after all.
The next morning, Edith was happily puttering in her kitchen, getting cinnamon rolls into the oven and just starting up a pot of coffee, when the phone rang. “Shepherd’s Inn,” she sang out cheerfully.
“Edith Ryan?” said a male voice.
“Yes?”
“This is Mayor Drummel. I’m sorry to call so early, but I hadn’t really planned to be in my office today, and I wanted to take care of this as soon as possible.” He cleared his throat. “There’s been concern expressed over the rather outlandish vehicle that’s been parked in front of your inn.”
“Yes?” Edith didn’t know what to say.
“Well, I wanted to let you know that they’ll need to leave as soon as possible. City ordinances do not allow for this type of vehicle to be parked in town. This morning won’t be a bit too soon.”
“But that might not be possible, Mayor Drummel. You see, they’re broken down, and although our church is going to help them with mechanics and whatnot, I seriously doubt that the bus will be up and running anytime this morning.”
“So they are leaving, then?”
“Of course. I’m sure they’ll leave as soon as it’s possible.”
“Because it doesn’t look good, Edith. I mean, we’re a town that prides ourselves on appearances, especially at Christmas time. I’m sure you must understand the importance of this since you run a very nice inn and Charles oversees the town’s only church—a rundown old bus that’s broken down in the street doesn’t reflect well on you folks either. If necessary, we could probably have them towed away.”
Now, this rubbed Edith wrong. And while she didn’t care to take the mayor to task, she thought perhaps a gentle reminder might be in order. “I can respect your concern,” she began, “but you must remember that these are real people with real problems, and you can’t simply brush them away as if they were garbage—especially at Christmas. If we’re a town that
And just like that, the attitude in the room began to shift and transform until not only was the board willing to pay for all the mechanical expenses and new tires, but Helen was talking about giving an impromptu baby shower for Amy.
“But they’ll be leaving soon,” protested Olive. “There’ll be no reason for them to stick around once their bus is running.”
“Then we’ll have to jump right on it,” said Helen with excitement. “I’ll bet you that they don’t have a single thing for that baby. Do they, Edith?”
Edith held up her hands. “I really don’t know. But I guess I could find out.”
“Right,” said Helen. “You find out and call me first thing in the morning. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the rest.”
Edith’s heart and heels were happy as she and Charles walked across the street later on that night. “It’s just so amazing,” she told him. “I don’t ever remember the board being so generous, so quickly, before.”
He squeezed her hand. “Well, you made a beautiful plea, dear. I don’t know how they could’ve turned their backs after what you said.”
“Do you think it sounded crazy?” she ventured. “I mean the part about them possibly being angels or even our Lord? Goodness, I don’t want everyone to think that I’m losing my marbles.”
“No, I think it sounded very tenderhearted and compassionate. And who knows? Maybe they are angels unaware.”
Snowflakes were starting to fall again as Edith paused on the sidewalk to look over to where the bus was parked. For a few seconds she just stared and wondered. Wouldn’t it be like God to send angels in a funny old vehicle like that—so quirky and unexpected? So unlike anything that humans would think of doing. But hadn’t it been like that when the Lord Jesus was born in a humble barn? And as she went to sleep that night, she felt a deep and comforting sense of peace, as if she really was on the right track after all.
The next morning, Edith was happily puttering in her kitchen, getting cinnamon rolls into the oven and just starting up a pot of coffee, when the phone rang. “Shepherd’s Inn,” she sang out cheerfully.
“Edith Ryan?” said a male voice.
“Yes?”
“This is Mayor Drummel. I’m sorry to call so early, but I hadn’t really planned to be in my office today, and I wanted to take care of this as soon as possible.” He cleared his throat. “There’s been concern expressed over the rather outlandish vehicle that’s been parked in front of your inn.”
“Yes?” Edith didn’t know what to say.
“Well, I wanted to let you know that they’ll need to leave as soon as possible. City ordinances do not allow for this type of vehicle to be parked in town. This morning won’t be a bit too soon.”
“But that might not be possible, Mayor Drummel. You see, they’re broken down, and although our church is going to help them with mechanics and whatnot, I seriously doubt that the bus will be up and running anytime this morning.”
“So they are leaving, then?”
“Of course. I’m sure they’ll leave as soon as it’s possible.”
“Because it doesn’t look good, Edith. I mean, we’re a town that prides ourselves on appearances, especially at Christmas time. I’m sure you must understand the importance of this since you run a very nice inn and Charles oversees the town’s only church—a rundown old bus that’s broken down in the street doesn’t reflect well on you folks either. If necessary, we could probably have them towed away.”
Now, this rubbed Edith wrong. And while she didn’t care to take the mayor to task, she thought perhaps a gentle reminder might be in order. “I can respect your concern,” she began, “but you must remember that these are real people with real problems, and you can’t simply brush them away as if they were garbage—especially at Christmas. If we’re a town that
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