NO ROOM...GO AWAY

This will be the first Christmas Eve in many years that I do not get to tell my most favorite Christmas story in church. I received an email from someone this week saying, "I always cringed each Christmas Eve when you would start telling the 'No Room" story - but this year I am going to miss hearing you tell it." So, here it is, just in a much shoter format:

NO ROOM...GO AWAY

It was Mrs Johnson's Second Grade Class' turn to put on the annual Christmas Pageant for the entire town and Mrs Johnson was determined that it would go off without a hitch. However, there was one problem. His name was Wally. Wally was a little backward and had been held back several years making him the largest and tallest boy in his class. Wally was determined to be a shepherd in the Christmas pageant.

Mrs Johnson knew that she could now allow Wally to have such an important role since he was very clumsy and likely to make a scene. After careful delibearation she came up with what she thought was a wonderful plan. She convinced Wally to be the innkeeper. She gave him his line, "No Room...Go Away!" Wally was excited at his role and spent the next couple of weeks practicing. Everywhere Wally went you could hear him repeating those words, "No Room...Go Away!"

Finally the big night came. As usual, the entire community shut down and filled the school auditorium. Wally was standing backstage mesmerized at the excitement and Mrs Johnson was feeling very proud. The show went off without any problems. It finally came to Wally's big scene. Joseph and Mary slowly walked up to the inn and knocked. Wally answered, and just like he had been instructed by Mrs Johnson, he gruffly responded "No Room...Go Away."

Suddenly, Mrs Johnson paniced. Wally was supposed to have closed the door of the inn and be done. But as Mary and Joseph walked away, Wally stood at the entrance of the inn watching them walk slowly away. Suddenly, before Mrs Johnson could react, Wally did something that was not in the script.

What happened next will long be remembered by those attending that night. With tears straming down his cheeks, Wally cried out, "Joseph, WAIT!" The couple stopped not knowing what to do. They had not practiced this. Then Wally conintued, "Joseph, bring Mary back...You can have my room!"

Some people thought Wally ruined the Christmas pageant that year. But if you think about it, Wally may have just understood Christmas better than most. You see, if you really understand the meaning of Christmas, you will give Jesus the best room of your life - the room of your heart!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!