It was shattered and broken, the packing scuffed and torn

The box beneath the Christmas tree was smudged by grime

and worn.

"What good is this?" the father bent to lift it from the floor,

A broken angel with no wings could never learn to soar

To top the tree as she had done in Christmases gone by.

"Wait, Father," pajamma clad, the boy beside him cried,

"I'll fix her--let me do it, please, at least just let me try."

Father paused, and looked again at the broken bits

of glass,

"Okay," he sighed, but be careful son."  He hugged him as

he passed.

The boy gathered gently, every tiny glistening shard, and set off in

the morning across his vast back  yard.

"Don't worry little angel, you'll be fine by end of day,"

he whispered to the pieces in a bag slung at his waist.

At last he came at setting sun to a house tucked in the wood

Smoke poured from the chimney, he called loud as he could,

"Are you there my forest friend, can you help me today?"

A cranky grunt behind the door said, "No--so go away."

"But please," the boy persisted, "my angel's wings are glass

and if you don't help her, she'll be tossed out in the trash,

for she's broken and cannot adorn the top of our chirstmas tree,

Could you please help her, maybe... fashion some new wings?"

The door swung opened just a crack and the small boy stepped inside

His eyes went round with wonder and his jaw dropped at the sight

Of ornaments of all colors, all shapes, and all so bright.

He'd seen them through the window, but never in the light.

The forester took the bag from him and then donned his apron tight,

"I'll have to melt her down," he said, "for her to come out right."

So he took the Christmas angel, and placed her in the fire

The blaze took all remaining form and ran her river red

And then he breathed upon her and cooled her down again.

And there she was! Beautiful, more graceful than before

Stately, smiling angel, her glorious wings unfurled.

"Sometimes when things get broken, " the angel maker said,

"it's best to put them through the fire and  then bring them out again."

©

Linda settles

www.RedeemingOurTreasures.com