Three Cans of Soup (22 page)

“Are you related to Reverend Bill?” asked one older woman, missing teeth, but sporting some clean new-used clothing.

“He is my Dad!” Robby said and noted the pride that he felt when he said those words.

“Bless you and bless your dad, he is a saint,”

Robby just smiled.

Whereas in the past the volunteers waited until all were served to eat, Bill insisted that volunteers take turns and join the community for dinner. After dinner they all joined together in singing carols. Bill emerged from a side room dressed as Santa. Robby and Lisa smiled at each other, remembering that a little over a year ago their father would not have needed extra stuffing or a fake beard. Presents were handed out and then Bill went to the front and sat on a stool.

“I want all you to know that on this Christmas you are all somebody. The world is cold outside but in here it is warm. I have a special gift for each of you. Many years ago, many, many years ago I received a special gift from a special lady. Her name was Mary Pond. She lived alone in an old, beat-up house. I remember she had pictures on her wall, cut out from magazines of places around the world, places she would never go. Well, I was a young preacher in my first church, going to school, and preaching on weekends. My dad was very sick and I was disappointed I could not afford to go back home to visit him for Christmas. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. Well, Mary was a quiet person with a big heart. When her ex-husband who had left her for a younger woman, then got sick and was put in a nursing home, Mary took care of him until he died, even though he never recognized who she was. She helped people, took care of people when they got sick, and was always someone who would compliment a young preacher. Mary got by on her small Social Security check by doing something special. She told me about it one day. She took me to her cupboard and told me that she survived by eating a can of soup for lunch and another one for dinner. There in her cupboard she had the soup stacked two cans high, one for each day. Well, that Christmas the little church had a party for a very lonely preacher. They gave some nice gifts. The last gift I opened was this old paper bag, given by Mary Pond. When I opened it and looked inside I could not believe what I saw. There in the bag were three cans of soup: chicken with rice, chicken noodle, and vegetable beef. Mary had literally given me three meals. I knew that she would go hungry so the young preacher could have a Christmas present. That gift has inspired me through the years and ultimately is what brought me here.”

Bill paused and pulled a framed picture out of an old sack. Within the frame, made by Larry, were the three faded labels from the soup. Handing the picture to Larry, Bill said, “We are going to hang this right over our door so that everyone who comes here will know that here there is gift, a gift of love, and that everyone is always welcome. Each of you is a gift and my prayer and Christmas wish is that you will see that truth. Merry Christmas!”

The nails rang out as the framed picture of soup labels was placed over the entrance. At each pounding Bill knew that he was where he was to be. Sharon approached his side, as did Robby and Lisa. Larry finished by hanging the framed picture.

“Mary,”
Bill thought,
“What a gift you did give!”

-THE END-