Clair lived in a big city full of lights! She loved her little house on the top of a huge skyscraper. Her favorite place was her bedroom where she had a plethora of Toys! In her bedroom she had big stuffies small stuffies, shiny stuffies and crazy stuffies. But of all her stuffies her favorites were Mr. Coco and Mrs. Mellow who would always go on adventures together in her playtime.  

   She loved her stuffies in her bedroom, but she also loved the kitchen. It was her second favorite place because her mom would often be in there making something tasty! Her mom could be making brownies, cookies, cupcakes, or cakes! One day her mom was making her favorite treat, Christmas cookies! Claire helped her mom icing them and put sprinkles on. Then they put them in a pretty box to bring to bring to grandma’s house for a Christmas eve party that evening!

   Her third favorite place was their family car! It was bright red and smelt like dad’s old tool box. She sat in the back with a cozy blanket and stared out the window. There were Christmas lights atop every shop and lamppost. She watched people running to and fro, finishing their last-minute Christmas shopping. She smiled, but then her smile turned into a frown. She noticed something… She saw a little family sitting in the snow on the street. They weren’t dressed very warm. She felt cold for them and snuggled her blanket up to her chin.

   She told her parents what she saw. They sighed, and her dad softly replied, “Some family’s live on the streets because they don’t have a home.” Clair felt sad and looked out the window again, this time she didn’t see the lights and Christmas shoppers she saw the big snowflakes falling down and the cold ice on the store roofs she listened to the wind blowing against the car. Suddenly an idea popped into her mind “Can they stay at our house?” she asked with excitement. Her parents smiled at each other, and her mother said, “we can’t bring strangers to our house sweetie, but we can think and pray about other ways we can help them.” Claire perked up and got to thinking. She thought about it hard all evening at her grandma’s house.

   That night as her parents prayed with her and hugged her goodnight she decided to pray. She prayed “God how can I help the family in on the street they seem cold and sad?” She waited… and waited and got bored then she remembered that her mom said, “God often speaks through his word the Bible” so she pulled it out and read where she had stopped last night. “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” She smiled and knew exactly what to do! 

    When she woke up Christmas morning she got a big bag filled it with all her stuffies, all her warm clothes and all her bedding even her pillow! She stumbled into the kitchen under her big bag of things. “Good morning mom! Could I have some of your Christmas deserts, to go?” she cheerfully exclaimed. Her mom looked up at her with surprise, “Where are you going with all of that stuff!?” Claire replied, “I’m bringing them to the homeless family on the street because the Bible said to help them. “Her mom smiled and gave Claire a big hug. “you are a special girl!”