Joseph Christmas Guess {Part 1}

The Christmas season of 'joy and goodwill to all mankind' can be rather depressing to some people. For 65-years-old Joseph, it was usually a lonely period. the Christmas sales, Yuletide carols and the sight of people shopping for gifts only served to remind him of painful memories of his estranged loved once. His two sons and daughters were all grown up and they had their own lives and families. After the death of his wife, Anne, his children and grandchildren stopped coming over to spend Christmas with him. And he had grown tired of visiting them and feeling increasingly unwelcomed and unwanted.

That was why Joseph decided to spend the coming Christmas by himself, tending to the tackle shop he was operating in the coastal town of Port Dickson. Well, his Joe' s Tackle & Angling Supplies Sdn Bhd business had seen better days but it had kept him occupied for the past 10 years after his wife death. Althought business had deteriorated steadily, he would not dream of selling the shop - despite exhortations to do so by his Children. without the shop, what is he going to do with all the time on his hands?

Yes, instead of closing up like the other businesses in his block, he would stay open on Christmas, Joseph thought to himself. Even thought his assistant, Alfred, was on leave, he should be able to manage, especially since there would be fewer customers on a public holiday.

Come Christmas eve, Joseph made himself a nice dinner and some cocktails - and sat on his rocking chair watching a musical programme on television. Soon, he feel asleep. Joseph could not be sure if he was dreaming or not, but he saw an image of a long-haired man in white robes, coming to him from a bright background.

"Who are you, sir?" Joseph asked. "I am an old friend who will be coming to spend Christmas with you. Please be ready for me tomorrow," the vision said and promptly vanished.
When Joseph woke up early in the morning, the dream was still vivid in his mind. "Who is this friend that is coming? Is he Jesus himself? What does he want from me? Is he coming for me at last?" Nevertheless, Joseph got ready for his Visitor. He tidied up the shop, perpared a special meal and made a big jug of ice lemon tea. When he was satisfied that he had everything in order, Joseph opened the grille shutters and waited behind the counter.





*Joseph could not be sure if he was dreaming or not, but he saw an image of a long-haired man in white robes, coming to him from a bright background*





The first visitors were three young men who dropped by to buy some worms and left. They were too much hurry to be considered as his guests. A few hours later, an old woman was tyring to sell him some packets of tissue paper. Joseph was about to chase her away when he noticed that the little girl was limping. she had a festering wounds and it was bleeding.

"Let me get you a bandage for the wound," Joseph told the girl. While he was cleaning the wound on the girl's leg, Joseph noticed that his two visitors were eyeing the food he had perpared. they looked hungry and since it was chrismas, he offered them the meal on the table. the two sat down, ate heartly, thanked him profusely, and went on their way.