Chapter 6: A Christmas Miracle

The next morning was Christmas Day. Spongebob's horn alarm broke the early morning silence with it's horrendously loud blare. Spongebob woke up with a cheerful smile on his face. He stood up on his bed with his arms raised. "Merry Christmas Bikini Bottom!!" he shouted. "And right now it's time for operation Miracle to take action. "Back at Sandy's treedome, Kelly awoke with a yawn and stretched. She climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth. Her necklace shined in the light. "Good morning Kelly." said Sandy as she walked by the bathroom. "Merry Christmas." "Merry Christmas." Kelly said. Sandy noticed Kelly's necklace. "Where did you get that?" she asked, amazed. "It's a Christmas gift from a friend." said Kelly. "When'd you get it? Sandy asked. But before Kelly could answer that question, she heard something. "What's that sound?" Kelly asked. Sandy listened. "It sounds like singing." she said. "It is singing." She said. "But where from?" asked Kelly. She and Sandy walk to the outside of the tree to find the source of the singing. Outside the treedome through the glass, the girls saw their friends. Singing the Christmas carol, "Joy to the World" Kelly smiled. "What's all this?" asked Sandy. After the group finished singing, Spongebob signaled Kelly and Sandy to come outside. "Let's go see what they want." Kelly said. They both changed into their clothes and suits and went outside. "Merry Christmas!" their friends greeted them. "Merry Christmas you guys. Sandy said. Kelly smiled. "What is this?" Kelly asked. "Well we all felt bad for you after what happened last night." said Spongebob. "So Spongebob thought of a way to help you feel better." said Mr. Krabs. "Aww, you guys didn't have to." said Kelly. "We wanted to." said Mrs. Puff.
Sandy giggled. "Even you Squidward?" she asked. "Well, I felt I should." He said. "You had a lot of guts to do what you did." Kelly smiled. "Well thanks everyone." she said. They smiled, even Squidward. "Spongebob even told us what Christmas was really about." said Patrick. "He told us it's about…uh…um….What was I going to say?" "It's about giving to others and that God gave us the first gift of Christmas." said Pearl. "Oh right. Hehe." Patrick said. "We also want to show you something." Mr. Krabs said. "What is it?" asked Kelly. "Follow us." Mrs. Puff said. "You'll see." Kelly smiled. She and Sandy followed their friends to see their surprise. "Close your eyes now." Mrs. Puff said. "Ok.." Kelly said. She closed her eyes. Sandy did likewise. Spongebob took Sandy's hand and Squidward took Kelly's. Both guiding them. Kelly and Sandy felt anticipation rising in their guts. "Aha, here we are girls." said Mrs. Puff. "You can open your eyes now." said Mr. Krabs. Sandy and Kelly did so. What they saw had them by surprise. A sand sculpture of the Nativity scene. "Wow!" Sandy said. Kelly felt tears coming to her eyes. "This is truly amazing." said Kelly. "I take it you like it then, lass?" Mr. Krabs said. "Yeah." Kelly said feeling choked up. They all smiled. Kelly held the cross and medallion on her necklace and smiled. "Where'd you get that pretty necklace?" Pearl asked. "A friend paid me a visit last night and gave it to me as a Christmas gift." said Kelly. "Cool." Pearl said. Soon voices could be heard. "What's that sound?" Squidward asked. "I don't know." Sandy said. Soon a fish child was seen by the group. "There they are." the boy said. Then his parents followed close behind. Then another fish fellow. And another, and another. "Whoa." Spongebob said. "Where are these folks coming from?" Soon it seemed that everybody in Bikini Bottom came to the scene. "Uh…what's going on?" Sandy asked. "What's everyone doing here?" Kelly asked. "Well," said one fish. "Everybody in town found these notes on their doors."

"What notes?" asked Spongebob. The little boy handed a piece of paper to Spongebob. He took it, and read the words printed on it. Spongebob smiled and handed it to Sandy. She read the note as well and smiled. "Hey Kelly, you might want to read this." said Sandy. She handed Kelly the paper. She read it. The note read:

"Only an open mind will accept the truth.
The light will touch you with an open mind. "For the truth shall set you free."
-I AM

Kelly gasped. "It also said to look for you guys." said a lady fish. Kelly felt her heart racing. "This is a holy message." she said. "How do you mean?" Squidward asked. "I AM, is another name for God." said Kelly. "I thought his other name was Jehovah." Squidward said. "God has many names." said Kelly. "But all belong to one." Sandy nodded. "Are you saying that this God sent this message?" someone said. "That's what I'm saying and believing." said Kelly. "An open mind huh?" said Spongebob. Kelly nodded. "The truth is in front of us. All we have to do is believe." "And listen." said Sandy indicating the large mass of people. "Yeah!" everyone else said to the crowd. "Ok ok." said one guy. "We'll listen." Kelly felt scared. A little boy walked over to her. He took her hand and smiled at her. Kelly smiled at the child. "All right." she said. I'll tell you what I was gonna tell you last night." Sandy held Spongebob's hand. Spongebob smiled and blushed. "You see," Kelly began. "Christmas isn't about getting something for free. It's about giving to others and showing kindness and love towards each other." "As God did for us, he sent his son Jesus Christ to help us. He gave up his life for the sins of the world." Sandy said. "His selfless act was the ultimate display of love." Kelly said. "We should show the same selfless love, by giving out of the goodness of our hearts to our friends and neighbors." "And neighbors?" said Squidward. Kelly giggled. "I also think you owe Kelly an apology." said Spongebob. The crowd all looked down. Spongebob was right. Everyone offered their sincere apologies. Kelly, feeling that a weight had been lifted, forgave them all. "Thanks everyone." she said. "I owe my thanks to God. And to you guys." Kelly smiled at her friends. A young boy held Kelly's hand. Kelly smiled then she started to sing.

"Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"

The others began to join in singing the song. Kelly smiled at what she saw, and felt tears of joy begin to form. Soon everyone was singing. And no one had heard the song before. Kelly saw this as a miracle from God himself.

Two days passed. The 27th had come.

"Thanks for having me over." Kelly said to Sandy. "Anytime." Sandy said, hugging her. "It was great meeting you Spongebob. And thanks for everything." said Kelly giving Spongebob a hug. Spongebob hugged her back. "Come back anytime, we'd be glad to have you." he said. "I will." said Kelly. "Around Springtime." Spongebob smirked. A bus came. "That's my ride." said Kelly. Sandy smiled. "It was great having you." she said. "It was great being here." said Kelly as she put her air helmet on. "Goodbye." said Kelly. "Bye. See you in Spring." Sandy said. Kelly walked out of the treedome to where the bus was. Sandy and Spongebob waved from under the oak tree. Before the bus moved on, Kelly pointed up. "Look up guys!" she shouted. Sandy and Spongebob looked up. To both of their amazement, they saw some mistletoe that hung above them from a branch. "How'd that get there?" Sandy asked. "I don't know." Spongebob said. Until he caught Kelly's knowing look as she boarded the bus. The bus departed and Kelly was gone. "Kelly hung it." Spongebob said. "But what for?" Sandy asked. Spongebob blushed. "Well we know what happens when someone is under the mistletoe." he said.

"But you're wearing a water helmet." said Sandy. "How can we…" Spongebob then turned upside down and jumped out of his helmet holding his breath. Quickly, Spongebob planted a light kiss against Sandy's lips. Sandy blushed as Spongebob soon had his water helmet back on. Both gave an awkward chuckle. "Well I'd better go home. It's time to polish Gary's shell." said Spongebob. "Yeah, I need to clean the tree myself." Sandy said. They said their goodbyes and Spongebob left the treedome.

When he got back home and after he had finished polishing Gary's shell. Spongebob went upstairs to his room. On his bed he noticed something An unopened Christmas gift. "Hmm." Spongebob thought. "What's this?" He unwrapped the package and looked at his gift. It was a Bible. Kelly had brought a spare Bible with her on her trip. Inside the book, was a little slip of paper. Spongebob took a look at it. The paper read:

Dear Spongebob,
I want to thank you for helping me out for when I was down.
Bikini Bottom is lucky to have a guy like you. This Bible is for you to learn more about
God's wonders and miracles. If you ever need help with anything you let me know.
Sandy has my email address.
-Kelly
Ps
Never be afraid to tell someone you love how you truly feel about them.

Spongebob smiled. "Thanks Kelly." he said. He opened his new Bible. He thought about the rest of the note, and about Sandy. He felt determination surge through him. "I will tell you how I feel about you Sandy." Spongebob said to himself. "Someday." Spongebob turned to the first page of his Bible. Genesis. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." he read. Spongebob smiled as he read the passage. He felt a deep connection to the Lord, as though the Holy Spirit were guiding him. His thoughts also turned to Sandy. Someday, they would be together. Of that he had no doubt, and God willing, it would last forever.

(I hope you enjoyed the story ^^ Happy Holidays!!)