Episode 729 - The Christmas Guest

Happy Holidays, Cannon Nation! In this special Christmas week episode, Phil continues a cherished tradition by setting aside the usual Monday Morning Mojo format to read “The Story of the Christmas Guest” by Helen Steiner Rice. The timeless poem reminds listeners that the true spirit of the season is found in compassion, generosity, and showing kindness to others, often in unexpected ways, and invites a moment of reflection during this busy holiday week.

Resources:

"The Story of the Christmas Guest" by Helen Rice Steiner

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Transcript

Top performers in every field surround themselves with those who inspire them, who seek to build them up, and who push them to reach beyond their current limits. I am Phil Buchanan, executive chairman of Cannon Financial Institute. I designed Monday Morning Mojo to provide you with a weekly spark, a push and motivational insight to live your best life. Thanks for joining.

Good Monday Morning, Cannon Nation. It is Phil here with episode 729 of Monday Morning Mojo. Well, it's Christmas week and I wanna wish each of you a very merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah, happy holidays, and a blessed, blessed season. Per our custom. It is in this podcast each year that we take time to reflect and we do so through the reading of the Story of the Christmas Guest by Helen Steiner Rice.

It's one of the most beautiful poems and beautiful stories that I have ever heard. I first was exposed to the story of the Christmas guest in song. Grandpa Jones, who was a famous country musician, adapted the poem by Helen Steiner Rice and put it to music. And I remember being in my grandmother's house and listening to that song as a child, and it was absolutely enchanting.

Johnny Cash, Reba McIntyre, and Andy Griffith have all at one time or another, adapted it to music as well, and it can be fantastic. But today we simply do a reading of the poem. I hope you enjoy it.

“It happened one day at the years White Inn. Two neighbors called on an old time friend and they found his shop so meager and mean made merry with a thousand bows of green.

And Conrad was sitting with face a shine when he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine, and he said, oh, friends at dawn, today when the cock was crowing the night away, the Lord appeared in a dream to me and said, I'm coming your guest to be. So, I've been busy with feet a stir. Screwing my shop with branches of fur.

The table is spread and the kettle is shined, and over the rafters, the holly is twined. And now I'll wait for my Lord to appear and listen closely. So I will hear his step as he nears my humble place, and I open the door and look in his face. So his friends went home and left Conrad alone for this was the happiest day.

He had known for long since his family had passed away, and Conrad has spent a sad Christmas day. But he knew where the Lord as his Christmas guest this Christmas would be the dearest and best. And he listened with only joy in his heart and with every sound he would rise with a start and look for the Lord to be standing there and answer to his earnest prayer.

So he ran to the window after hearing a sound. All that he saw on the snow covered ground was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn, and all of his clothes were ragged and worn. So Conrad was touched and went to the door and he said, your feet must be frozen and sore, and I have some shoes in my shop for you, and a coat that will keep you warmer too.

So with Grateful Heart, the man went away. But as Conrad noticed the time of day, he wondered what made the dear Lord so late and how much longer he'd have to wait when he heard a knock and ran to the door, but it was only a stranger once more. A bit old crone with a shawl of black, a bundle of kindling piled on her back.

She asked for only a place to rest, but that was reserved for Conrad's great guest, but her voice seemed to plead, don't send me away, let me rest a while on Christmas day. So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup and told her to sit at the table and sub. But after she left, he was filled with dismay. Before he saw that the hours were passing away and the Lord had not come as he said he would, and Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood when out of the stillness he heard a cry.

Please help me and tell me where I am. So again, he opened his friendly door and stood disappointed as twice before. It was only a child who had wandered away and was lost from her family on Christmas day. Again, Conrad's heart was heavy and sad, but he knew he should make this little child glad. So he called her in and wiped her tears and quieted her childish fears.

Then he led her back to her home once more, but as he entered his own darkened door. He knew that the Lord was not coming today for the hours of Christmas had passed away. So we went to his room and knelt down to pray and he said, dear Lord, why did you delay? What kept you from coming to call on me for?

I wanted so much your face to see when soft in the silence of voice he heard lift up your head for I kept my word. Three times my shadow crossed your floor. Three times I came to your lonely door for I was the beggar with bruised cold feet. I was the woman you gave to eat and I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked and three times I came in and each time I found the warmth of a friend of all the gifts. Love is the best, and I was honored to be your Christmas guest.”

Monday Morning Mojo is production of Cannon Financial Institute, executive producer of Monday Morning. Mojo is Sarah Jones. Editing and mixing is done by Danny Brunner. Until next time, I'm Phil Buchanan reminding you to be a force for good. Have a great week. Merry Christmas, and we'll talk to you soon.