Advent Day 14 – The Shoemaker
Matthew 25:35-40
Caleb C.
One of my favorite Christmas stories is an old tale by Russian author Leo Tolstoy, called “The Shoemaker,” or “Where Love is, God is.” Below is an abbreviated and updated version that I have used over the years. I pray that it is a blessing for you today.
—
Long ago, there was a lonely, old shoemaker named Martin who lived in a basement room. Through his lone window, he could see the feet of those passing by, often recognizing people by their shoes.
Martin had not always been alone. He had a family…once… but he lost them to a horrible sickness. A memory that was especially painful on this Christmas Eve night. He wondered why God would allow such pain.
As he sat, he remembered the words of an old friend, “I don’t know why God allowed this pain, but it can’t be without purpose, for God himself chose to suffer… That’s the power of Christmas… It’s the story of God humbling himself, becoming human, and suffering all the pains and darkness of humanity.
“God,” his old friend said, “became human, lived among us, died for us, and rose from death to save us and bring us light and life eternal. That’s why they called Jesus Immanuel… it means God with us.”
Martin sat in his chair and reflected on these words. He wondered, “If God is with me, why does he feel so far away?”
Martin slowly began to fall asleep. Suddenly, he was awoken by a quiet voice: “Martin, Martin.”
“Who’s there?” he asked.
He looked around; no one was there.
Then he heard it again: “Martin, Martin! Look for me tomorrow, for I will visit you.”
—-
In the morning, Martin rose, lit the fire, and thought about the whisper. He wasn’t sure, but he thought maybe it was God.
As he worked by the window, A man walked by, shovel in hand. Martin knew him by his boots, shabby & worn. It was an old soldier whose duty was to keep the street clean. But his body was tired and broken. He didn’t have the strength to clear the snow. He just leaned against the wall, trying to get warm.
So Martin tapped on the window and invited him in.
“Come in,” he said, “and warm yourself a bit. I’m sure you must be cold. Sit, have some coffee.”
While they drank, Martin kept glancing out the window.
“You expecting someone?” asked the old soldier.
Embarrassed, Martin said, “In the middle of the night, I heard a whisper, and I’m almost certain it was Jesus telling me he’d come to visit. Though I am ashamed of it myself, I keep expecting him to show up.”
The old soldier sat silently and sipped his coffee.
“I know it’s silly, but I was thinking that they say that Jesus spent most of his time with common people. Plain people. Broken people… like me. Maybe he will visit me.”
They continued to talk, sipping the hot coffee.
After finishing a second cup, the old soldier gave thanks and left. Martin went about his work, looking out the window, waiting for a special visitor.
—
Two guards walked by in Government boots, then the owner of a neighboring house in shining new Oxfords, then a young woman in worn-out old shoes. Martin saw that she was a stranger, poorly dressed, and with a baby in her arms, back to the wind, trying to keep warm.
Martin called, “My dear, ‘Come inside. You can warm yourself here by the fire.”
The woman was surprised but glad. She followed him in.
“There, sit down near the fireplace. Warm yourself and the baby.”
He brought out some bread and soup.
“Please, eat, I’ll mind the baby. I’ve had children of my own; I know how to make them laugh.”
Martin put the child on his knee. The baby laughed. Martin laughed too.
With difficulty, the young woman told her story,
‘They sent my husband away months ago, and I haven’t heard of him since. I had a job as a cook until my baby was born, but they wouldn’t keep me with a child. I’ve sold all that I have for food.
At that, Martin went into his closet and brought back his coat.
“Here,’ he said, ‘though it’s worn out, it will keep you both warm.”
And please, take this. It’s not much, but I think it will afford you a few nights at the inn.” said Martin. As he handed her the money, she wiped the tears from her eyes, said thank you and he saw her out.
Martin cleared the table and sat down to work. Out the window, he saw many people passing by, but no one remarkable.
—
As the day continued, Martin saw a woman with an apple cart. Suddenly, a hungry boy in tattered clothes attempted to grab a piece of fruit, but the old woman caught him, grabbing him violently. The boy screamed. The woman scolded.
Martin rushed out the door, “‘ Let him go, please!”
“No!” she scoffed, “I’ll make him pay.”
“Let him go, please,” Martin said. “I will pay for his apple.”
She let go, and the boy wished to run away, but Martin stopped him. The boy began to cry. Martin embraced him, and gave him the apple. The woman scoffed and then sighed.
Gathering his strength, the boy spoke to the woman, “I am sorry for what I have done. Would you like me to help you carry the cart? Surprised, the old woman nodded her head, and they walked down the street together.
Martin went back to the house, still waiting for the promised visit.
—
As evening set in, Martin turned on the lamp, put away his tools and sat in his chair. As he began to fall asleep, he wondered why the Lord had not come. Had he missed him while hosting his guests? Or, maybe it was just a silly dream after all. In his disappointment and frustration, Martin prayed quietly: “Jesus, why did you promise to visit me and then never show up?”
With this prayer on his lips, Martin fell asleep.
Suddenly, Martin was stirred awake by a noise that sounded like shuffling feet in the dark corner of the room.
Martin asked, “Who is there?”
Then, he heard a familiar voice: “Martin, Martin, did you not recognize me?”
“Lord?” Martin responded, “Why did you not visit me today?”
“Oh, Martin, I did visit you this day.” Then, out of the dark corner stepped the old soldier who whispered, “It is I,” before vanishing.
Then, out of the same corner, the woman with her baby appeared. “It is I,” she whispered, and likewise vanished.
Finally, the boy and the woman appeared, saying, “It is I,” then vanishing.
While tears streamed from his face, the old shoemaker remembered the words that Jesus had spoken to his disciples:
‘“‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat;
I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink;
I was a stranger, and you took me in;
I was naked, and you clothed me;
I was sick, and you took care of me;
I was in prison, and you visited me.’
‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Martin then understood that his dream had come true, that the Savior had indeed visited him that day. Full of hope for future encounters with Jesus, Martin gently drifted into a deep and restful sleep.
Where Love is, God is. By Leo Tolstoy