Remember - A Window Shoppe Story

The Window Shoppe Stories

Remember

The man hurried from store to store looking for that last item. He wasn't sure what it was, but he would know when he saw it. It was that final piece to the artwork puzzle that was his holiday display. Nothing he found seemed to fit, and he was growing a little angry with the crowds he had to plow through to get from place to place.

As he walked through the mall fighting against the tide of shoppers, he noticed a small shop tucked between two trendy clothing shops. What he noticed were the windows, all types of windows, and next to what appeared to be a window set in a wall covered in white vinyl siding was an old plastic Santa. One foot raised and half way into a plastic chimney, a bag of gifts slung over one shoulder, his hand raised in a wave to all who would walk by. Strings of lights hung around the window and blinked in a random cadence seeming to draw his footsteps toward the little shop. He was not sure why, but he let his feet lead him.

A woman stood by the window cleaning the glass, “Do you sell Christmas decorations here?” the man asked, not able to take his eyes from the cheerful looking Santa. “Oh, no” the store keeper replied with a smile on her face “but feel free to look around. The chairs are comfortable, and you look like you could use a little rest.”

Surprisingly the man smiled back and began to look around the shop. He hadn't noticed how many other windows were set in walls that seemed scattered through the space. Each was unique and varied as widely as the wall that held them. They all had a chair placed next to them. Some were filled, others stood empty. The man thought it strange that the people sitting in the chairs seemed to be staring through those windows lost in thought or watching. But what could they be watching in an empty window.

Finally the man's feet began to complain and he sat down in the chair next to the window that had drawn him into the shop. He looked at the Santa through the glass, wondering what it was that had drawn his attention so fully. His feet were glad but his mind buzzed with thoughts. Why was he wasting his time sitting here? Since he couldn't buy the Santa he should just move on.

As he continued to gaze out this little window on the world, the scene that it showed began to change. A porch appeared, the railing hung with garlands, wreaths hung from the roof between the pillars, their lights twinkling in the twilight. They had a familiar feel, almost like he had seen this all before. As he looked further he saw trees with their branches wrapped in colored lights, inflated decorations filled the lawn. Flying reindeer pulling a sleigh, snowmen in globes with blowing snow. Even the Grinch took center stage. And there off to the side was the plastic Santa.

“Remember”, he heard as if someone whispered in his ear. The man looked around and found he was no longer in the chair, but part of the scene. He was adjusting the last of the decorations on the lawn when he heard it again, “Remember Christmas”.

“Do you remember Christmas?” the plastic Santa said as he pulled his not so plastic leg from the chimney next to him. As he walked closer he became less and less plastic and more real with each step. “Why of course I remember Christmas” the man stammered. Was he losing his mind? How could this plastic Santa be talking to him? Wasn't he sitting in a chair in a little shop in the mall? He was in a hurry, he needed to move on.

Santa removed his hat as a young boy, looking disheveled and alone, walked along the side of the road in front of the man's house. Santa place his hat on the young man's head and it became a warm stocking cap to help keep out the cold. The young man pulled it down over his ears. He did not notice the symbol of a King on the cap, but he walked a little taller, a hint of a smile on his face.

“Remember those who have no one else to remember them”, St. Nicholas said as he watched the boy walk out of sight.

“Do you remember Christmas?” St. Nicholas said again, “Of course I do”, the man answered again not quite so certain this time. St. Nicholas reached down and removed his boots and reverently placed them next to a rifle bayoneted into the ground topped with a soldier's helmet. Several men knelt on one knee by the makeshift memorial, their heads bowed in silent prayer for the brother they had lost. Father Christmas placed a hand on each of their heads as if to offer a blessing.

“Remember the sacrifice of others” Father Christmas said as each man in turn stood and returned to their duty. They too did not notice the symbol of a king on the boots, but their backs were straight and strong. They knew they had work to do, they stood against the storm, the keepers of the keep.

“Do you remember Christmas?” Father Christmas asked a third time. The man looked down, not sure what to say. Shame filled his voice as he said “I may have forgotten”. Father Christmas removed his coat and placed it on the shoulders of a young woman holding her newborn child close to her to keep him warm. The woman's husband walked over and put his hand on the woman's shoulder as they began to walk away, a smile moved on their lips the symbol of the King emblazoned on the arms of the coat, a look of hope in their eyes that had not been there before.

“Remember the lives of all are precious” the carpenter said as he watched the family walk away. The man somehow knowing that this family would come out of their trials stronger than they ever were. The man was also beginning to see.

“Remember the colors of Christmas. Red for the blood shed on your behalf. White for the purity of love our Father has for you. Green for the hope of rebirth and renewal. Blue for the royalty that we all can achieve.”

“Do you remember Christmas?” The Savior asked, holding out his hands for the man to see. “Do you remember a child born in Bethlehem, a gift from your father to the whole world? You made a choice to come to this life, to forget all that you knew. To make choices, to make mistakes, to learn in a way that you never could before. You knew the pure Love of God, you need to learn to love purely.”

“Remember My blood that was shed for you because I love you. Remember Christmas, so you remember Me.”

The man started as he found himself back in his chair, the scene in the window fading like a memory. Standing from the chair, the man knew what he needed to do, he needed to keep this memory alive. He needed to share his memories of Christmas.

As he made to leave, the young woman walked up to him with the plastic Santa in her hands. “This is for you”, she said. “But I thought you didn't sell decorations” he said. “I am not selling it, it is a gift. Have a Merry Christmas”. “Thank you”, the man said “Thank you very much”. He took the offered gift, the plastic reminder and made his way out into the bustling crowd, looking with renewed eyes and a broad smile on his face. His Christmas display was now complete.

He would remember!