The story of Rudolf

  A beautiful woman wearing antlers with bells and a long sleeved green shirt came up to me this morning in the vitamin aisle of the grocery store.  I was staring so intently at the vitamins that it seemed to me that she just appeared next to me smiling broadly.  As soon as I looked up, she said, "You know I really should have a red nose."  I said, "Why?"  She said," Because Rudolf is as old as me and I am 72 years old and I think people should see the old Rudolf." And then we both started laughing.  I told her I agreed and wished her a merry Christmas and turned back to start shopping again.  But she stayed next to me.
  "If you have a minute, I could tell you the real story of Rudolf," she said.  I told her I would love to hear that story and she proceeded to tell me about the author of the original Rudolf story and how someone did a kind deed for him and his daughter and then he shared his good fortune with his whole neighborhood.  While she was talking, people were shopping around us and looking at us oddly. (She was a very animated and talented story teller.)
  " I heard that story on the radio last week and I can't get it out of my mind," she said.  I nodded in agreement and told her it really is a wonderful Christmas story. "And then yesterday," she continued holding my sweatshirt sleeve intently, "Yesterday I heard the story of a woman who saw a Salvation Army ringer who was cold and went and got him a cup of coffee and a gift card."
   "That is also a sweet Christmas story," I smiled at her and again wished her a merry Christmas and turned to go.
   But she held on.
   "So, I went to Walmart and saw that the ringer there was very cold too.  I couldn't afford a gift card, but I went and got him a hot cup of coffee with two sweet-n-lows, two sugars and two creamers. I didn't know how he liked his coffee so I got him the works!  He was so happy!  He thanked me and then I walked away." 
  "You are so full of the Christmas spirit!" I said. 
  " Well, I am trying to plant the seed of Christmas spirit in one person each day.  I try to pick someone who will really listen.   Now you have the seed you have to plant it in one person each day."
   With that, she turned and walked away humming and jingling her antlers.  I returned to shopping and haven't stopped smiling since.  I felt so blessed that she picked me!

Christmas seeds to celebrate!  Blessings in the vitamin aisle. :)