By RiverAngel42

This story is about a little boy named Nigel.  Nigel lives in a small town with his Parents, Grandparents and other siblings. He is the youngest of his siblings and is often said to be “high spirited”. While he has a good heart and knows right from wrong sometimes he gets a little excited and finds himself in a tad bit of trouble (of course you wouldn’t know what that was like).

One Christmas, as Nigel and his family were opening their presents, he noticed a package wrapped in brown paper stuffed way behind the tree.  The present had his name on it, however he did not know who the present was from.  So Nigel gave the package a shake, no sound.  He gave the package a squeeze, it was lumpy. Now he was totally confused as he had already received all the toys and clothes he could dream of.  The only thing that gave him a clue was a note that read, “Take me with you at all times, and I will be your comfort.” Love G.

Being curious Nigel ripped open the bag and there he found a green fleece blanket.  ”A Blanket” Nigel thought, “I’m a big boy, why on earth would I carry around a blanket.”  However there was something about this blanket and as the day progressed he found that not only was he following the instructions on the blanket but that he really never wanted to go anywhere without it. So as time went on he began to carry the blanket with him every where he went.  To the market, the blanket; the Doctor’s office, the Blanket;  school, the blanket. When he was happy he had the blanket and when he was sad he had the blanket.

Nigel was very good at soccer and it seemed that he always had a game.  So his family took turns going  to the games so there was always someone there to show their support.  Well one day it was his mother’s turn to show at his game.  This was Nigel’s best game ever. He scored goal after goal and after every goal he would look to the stands to see if his mother was there but she was not.  After the game ended she still was not there.  Nigel disappointed and scared wrapped himself up in his blanket and waited.  The coach watched from a distance and continued packing up until she arrived.  When she got there she apologized and explained to him that she had a flat tire.  She asked if he was ok and he replied “Yes Mommy, G was with me.”  She asked him, “Who is G?” He told her with a big grin, “my blanket”, as he hopped off the bench and ran to the car.

As time went on Nigel left his town and his family to go off and be a grown up. He left behind his parents, grandparents, siblings and blanket. He used to call all the time but the longer he was away the less he called, it was like he forgot about them and the blanket.  They all missed him and wondered where he was and how he was doing.

I had only heard of Nigel through stories in my town, everyone called him the boy with the blanket.  They told of stories of how they could see danger around the little boy and how it seemed as though the blanket always kept him safe.  Well one day as I was on  my way to drop somethings off at the Salvation Army, I saw a homeless man standing on the street.  It was Christmas time and he looked so sad and alone, not to mention cold.   I pulled over and said to him, “I don’t have much but what I was going to give to the Salvation Army, I would love to give to you instead.”  He came over and I handed him a pile of things. On the top of the pile was a green fleece blanket, the man looked at the blanket and then looked at me as if he didn’t know what to say.  I was thinking boy he must really be cold.  So I took the blanket wrapped it around him and said “I know it’s not much but perhaps if you take this blanket with you at all times it will give you some comfort” He wept. I said to him, “No need to cry, it’s Christmas time everyone should get something, it’s not that big of a deal.” I asked him what his name was and he replied, “Nigel. Thank you for this gift. While it’s nothing to you it gave me the comfort and strength I needed to go home.”

As Nigel walked away from me he had memories of when he was a child. Happy memories of him and G being close. How he always felt safe and protected when G was with him.  When he left home, he thought he left G behind but somehow he found him and he was sure glad he did.  As a child he thought that the blanket had magical powers as an adult he knew that the blanket wasn’t his strength at all but that his trusted friend was God and he was happy and willing to accept Him back into his life. As he walked and cried God whispered to him, “I was right here with you waiting to comfort you all along, now let’s go home.”

Merry Christmas and may we all share and receive the best gift we can this holiday season, the gift of God’s love.

Hebrews 13:5 “…God has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”