Tiny Tim was only six when his life came to an end. It is said that people are either strengthened or weakened when they go through tough times. You could say that there is no way to tell until it's put to the test. It something Bob and his family would learn seventeen months after their beloved Tim died. Bob was and always had been a very positive person. He made the decision a long time ago not to get mad and not to act in a hurtful way. That was something Bob and his wife both stuck with. They had more then once been put to the test and not the messengers of heaven decided to test the Crachit family.
If I find one of the Crachits pure of heart, the Father said, "I will reward the whole family handsomely." There was Bob, Marla, Martha, Peter, Belinda, Sarah, Christine and Janet. Marla was expecting a seventh... make that eighth child. Bob was the first to see the messenger of heaven.
"The Father is pleased with you," he said, "and to reward you for your goodness He has decided to allow you to chose one person who has passed. They will be resurrected and brought back. Bob was amazed. He was also saddened. He had a friend who lost his little girl only three days ago. As much as he loved Tim and as much as he LONGED for the return of his son he couldn't allow Christopher and Maria to suffer from losing Helen. "I thank you hearty," Bob said, "I chose the Malocha girl."
"Is that so," the angel asked.
"Yes. I want Tim back. I loved him with all my soul and I still love him. I know the hurt my friends Christopher and Maria are feeling and I cannot suffer them to suffer more when I can prevent it. Tim was so ill for so long and I know he is in a better place. I don't know about anything more." ... At the same day the Crachit family was sitting around the fireplace when the messenger showed up in their home. Marla screamed in surprise and a little bit of fear.
"There is naught to fear," the messenger said, "Your husband has shown great spiritual strength and kindness. He has sacrificed his own happiness for the happiness of another. The Father has seen purity in your family and he hastens to reward you for your purity."
"Reward us," Martha asked confused.
"Yes," the messenger said, "I am very happy to announce that due to your pure of heart the Father has decided to give you a gift that is worth more then a million pounds. He had decided to return Tim to your family."
"IS THIS A JOKE," Marla demanded angrily.
"This is NOT a joke," the messenger assured, "Because of the mercy your husband had shown to another family we are bestowing this gift upon you."
"I don't want Tim back," Peter said, "He was so ill. He couldn't walk. I don't want him back only to suffer."
"Of course not," the messenger said, "He will be made whole again." And so it was. And so it because of their compassion and love that they were rewarded.
Disclaimer: I don't own A Christmas Carol. I don't care if I'm a good writer or not. I write because I am inspired. When I see A Christmas Carol I don't think of Christmas. I think of the message it sends. I think of the message the heavenly Father wants us to hear. The message is that we are put on this Earth to make a difference and just like one song says Believe in what your heart is saying hear the melody that's playing there's not time to waste there's so much to celebrate. We have much to celebrate. We have friends and family and people who we love. I know I am so grateful for my family who loves me despite my flaws and my Heavenly Father who loves me for me. Weakness and all we are made strong in love. We are not the same people we were at the dawn of our lives and we will not be the same in the dusk but we will always be moving forward into that of a better place.
