ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
©MarilynNewburyCalgary2016
THESADMOMatCHRISTMASMarilynNewbury
DedicatedtoMarilynandAlbertSparkesforthegiftsofthenativitysetandthesnowlady,
asourceofnewjoyeveryChristmas
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
TheladyinthisstoryiscalledMichael’sMombecauseshehadason
namedMichael.
Michaelhadgrownintoatallman,
buttoMichael’sMom,hewasstillherlittleboy.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Hehitchhikedeverywhereandtravelledallovertheworld.
Michaelhadbecomeveryadventurous.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Sometimes,hesleptinatentinthecenterofadistantcity...
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
...orinthemiddleofnowhere.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Occasionally,hejustslept
inasleepingbaginthemiddle
ofasteepmountainpath.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Ifhewasreallywetandcold,hewouldknock
onafarmer’sdoor,andaskifhecould
takeshelterinthefarmer’sbarn.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Onetime,Michaelheardacougarcirclingaroundthehammockinhisbedroominthewoods.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michaelranawayasfastashecould,buthedidnotletthisfrighteningincidentstophimfromgoingonhisriskyventures.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Hetookbicycleandrafttripsinisolatedareas,
scaledicecliffs,
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Heflewinandoutofthemostdangerousairportintheworld.
andsurfedrivers.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michaelespeciallylovedmountainclimbing.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Onetime,hestraddledaveryhighmountaintopasifhewasridingahorse.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michael’sMomworriedwhenshesawallthescarypicturesofMichael’sexploits.
Shewasafraidhewouldgethurt.
Sureenough,afewweeksbeforeChristmas,Michaeldidhaveanaccident,
butitwasnotinafarawayplace.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Ithappenedathisworkintheairport,rightinhishomecity.
Michael’sfingertipwasseveredwhenitgot
caughtbetweentwocolliding
baggagecarts.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Eventhoughthedoctortriedtosewthefingertipbackon,
iteventuallydiedandhadtobecutoff.
ThismadeMichael’sMomverysad.
ShethoughtMichaelmighthavetroublescalingcliffsandclimbingmountains.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michael’sMomdidnotknowhowshewouldbeabletoenjoy
Christmaswhenshewassosad.
Shewonderedifhewouldever
beabletoplayhisukuleleorguitaragain.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michael’sMomwantedasignthatJesus’lovewouldbewithher,evenwhenshewasdownhearted.
Sheprayedandlookedeverywhere,butcouldnotseeasign.
Tohersurprise,asignofGod’slovewasfirstsenttoMichael.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Ithappenedonthedayhewasdrivingtothehospitalsothesurgeoncouldcutoffhisdeadfingertip.
Michaelturnedontheradiotohearsoothingmusic,buthedidnotlikethesongsthatwereplaying.
Hewantedtohearhisfavouritesong,the‘CelloSuiteNo.1inG’byBach.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
MichaellikedthispiecesomuchthatoneChristmasEve,afewyearsback,hehadrentedacelloandtriedtoplaythesong.
MichaelNewbury
December24
RentedaCello.MichaelNewburyOkhaha.IlearnedtwinkletwinklelittlestarandabassdiddlythingyandtodayIstartedlearningCelloSuiteNo.1byBachsoit'squitethejumpandmylefthandandshoulderareprettytightbutI'mlovingit!
Eventually,Michaeldecideditwastoohardtolearn,sohegaveupandjustlistenedtothemusicinstead.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Andnow,inthismoment,allMichaelwantedtohearwasthatspecialpiece.
Justashedroveintothehospitalparkinglot,hisfavouritesong,the‘CelloSuiteNo.1’,startedplayingontheradio.
Michaelpulledthecarovertothesideoftheroadandletthetearswellupinhiseyesashemadepeacewithhissadness.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michael’sMomwasverygladthatGodhadgivenMichael
asignofJesus’love,butshewantedtohave
herownsigntocomforthersadness.
Eventhoughshedidnotfeellikeit,shestarteddecoratingthehouse
forChristmas.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ShedisplayedherChristmastincollection,
hungherspecialteddybearsonthestairrail,
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
putuptheChristmas
tree,
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
andtriedtobuildagingerbreadhousewithhergrandchildren.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ButshedidnotfindasignthatGod’slove
wouldbewithherwhenshewasdespondent.
Inspiteofherfeelings,shesetupthenativityscene:
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
thestonewallandthetrees,
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
thecamelandthewisemen,
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
andtheshepherdwithhissheep.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Shefoundanangel,butitdidnotmatchtheset,sosheputitonadifferenttable.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Finally,shefoundJoseph,Mary,andthelittlemanger.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
SheunwrappedbabyJesuslast,becauseHewasthecenteroftheChristmasstory.
Sheverycarefullyremovedthetissuepaper,butwasdismayedasshelookedatthefragilebabyJesus.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michael’sMomdidnotknowhowthishadhappened.Shedidnotwheretofindthefingertipstogluethembackon.
Twoofthefingertipsweremissingfromoneofthetinyhands.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Michael’sMomgentlylaidthesmallinfantinthemanger.
Asshelookedatthebrokenfingers,sherealizedthatthenativitybabyJesushadadamagedhandjustlikeherson,Michael.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
SherememberedthatwhentherealbabyJesusgrewup,hishandshadbeennailedtoacrossforeveryone'ssins.Hehadfeltpeople'spainandsorrow,evenhers.
Michael’sMomwasreassuredthatJesusunderstoodhersadnessandMichael'sloss.ShehadreceivedhersignofGod'slove.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
NowMichael'sMomknewshecouldenjoyChristmas.
Whenevershewalkedbythenativityset,
shelookedatthetwobrokenfingersandfeltthepeaceinthesadness.
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
Sometimes,shestartedhumming
oneofherownfavouritesongs,
‘JoytotheWorld!’
ProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution
ProofCopy:NotoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistributionProofCopy:Notoptimizedforhighqualityprintingordigitaldistribution