The Christmas Scout

[boomerscout 35]

a little hokey, but I liked it. Pulled from boyscouttrail.com

 

In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year-old Frank Wilson was not happy. It was true he had received all the presents he wanted. And he enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose of exchanging gifts and good wishes. But, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed by a reckless driver.

 

Frank missed his brother and the close companionship they had together. Frank said good-bye to his relatives and explained to his parents that he was leaving a little early to see a friend; and from there he could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his new plaid jacket. It was his FAVORITE gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled. Then Frank headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy Scout troop. Frank always felt understood by him. Though rich in wisdom, he lived in the Flats, the section of town where most of the poor lived, and his patrol leader did odd jobs to help support his family.

 

To Frank's disappointment, his friend was not at home. As Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught glimpses of trees and decorations in many of the small houses. Then, through one front window, he glimpsed a shabby room with limp stockings hanging over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated nearby . . . weeping. The stockings reminded him of the way he and his brother had always hung theirs side by side. The next morning, they would be bursting with presents.

 

A sudden thought struck Frank : he had not done his 'good deed' for the day. Before the impulse passed, he knocked on the door. 'Yes?' the sad voice of the woman asked. 'May I come in?' asked Frank. 'You are very welcome,' she said, seeing his sled full of gifts, and assuming he was making a collection, 'but I have no food or gifts for you. I have nothing for my own children.'

 

'That's not why I am here,' Frank replied. 'Please choose whatever presents you would like for your children from the sled.'

 

'Why, God bless you!' the amazed woman answered gratefully. She selected some candies, a game, the toy airplane and a puzzle. When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost cried out. Finally, the stockings were full.

 

'Won't you tell me your name?' she asked, as Frank was leaving.

 

'Just call me the Christmas Scout,' he replied.

 

The visit left Frank touched, and with an unexpected flicker of joy in his heart. He understood that his sorrow was not the only sorrow in the world. Before he left the Flats, he had given away the remainder of his gifts. The plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy.

 

Now Frank trudged homeward, cold and uneasy. How could he explain to his parents that he had given his presents away? 'Where are your presents, son?' asked his father as Frank entered the house.

 

Frank answered, 'I gave them away.'

 

'The airplane from Aunt Susan? Your coat from Grandma? Your flashlight? We thought you were happy with your gifts.'

 

'I was very happy,' the boy answered quietly.

 

'But Frank, how could you be so impulsive?' his mother asked. 'How will we explain to the relatives who spent so much time and gave so much love shopping for you?'

 

His father was firm. 'You made your choice, Frank. We cannot afford any more presents.'

 

With his brother gone, and his family disappointed in him, Frank suddenly felt dreadfully alone. He had not expected a reward for his generosity, for he knew that a good deed always should be its own reward. It would be tarnished otherwise. So he did not want his gifts back; however he wondered if he would ever again truly recapture joy in his life. He thought he had this evening, but it had been fleeting. Frank thought of his brother, and sobbed himself to sleep.

 

The next morning, he came downstairs to find his parents listening to Christmas music on the radio. Then the announcer spoke: 'Merry Christmas, everybody! The nicest Christmas story we have this morning comes from the Flats. A crippled boy down there has a new sled this morning, another youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several families report that their children were made happy last night by gifts from a teenage boy who simply called himself the Christmas Scout. No one could identify him, but the children of the Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Claus himself.'

 

Frank felt his father's arms go around his shoulders, and he saw his mother smiling through her tears. 'Why didn't you tell us? We didn't understand. We are so proud of you, son.'

 

The carols came over the air again filling the room with music: '. . .Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth.'

 

 

[boomerscout 35]

Tampa Florida area Eagle Scout project

 

Many folks answer Boy Scout's call to help needy families at Christmastime

Twelve-year-old Joshua Poland issued the orders, and some 15 of his fellow Boy Scouts in Troop 442, along with about 500 beneficiaries, responded.

 

Saturday's Christmas event at Paul & Jerry's Self Storage on County Line Road was called "Give Till It's Gone."

 

The storage company, a donation site for several nonprofit agencies that receive goods beyond their need, parks them, then gives them away quarterly. The items include abandoned items from storage units, added owner Tim Reed.

 

Joshua wanted to do more, particularly to help needy families at Christmastime. He envisioned an Eagle Scout project.

 

He asked his school, Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics, for help, but administrators told him they already had holiday projects lined up. So Joshua approached Reed about having an event at Paul & Jerry's.

 

"This came together," the youth said, gesturing to the orderly line of recipients, Scouts poised to direct the crowd a separate room for kids to "shop" for their parents and other Scouts at the ready to wrap, tape and place ribbons on packages.

 

"He's delegating," said Joshua's mother, Fran Poland.

 

An Eagle Scout project requires organization of others. In other words, leadership is a necessity. Joshua has been a Scout since age 6; his mother is a troop chairwoman.

 

The items given out ranged from T-shirts to TVs.

 

One thing the school did allow was for Joshua to put out the word to other schools in the district, asking for classes to fill Christmas stockings for youngsters. He visited and collected stockings from 86 classrooms.

 

Padula's Pizza, at Poland's request, donated 15 pizzas for a party to the class that gave the most. Also responding to the Scout's organizational plan, RE/MAX Advance Realty put out boxes to collect gifts and solicited donations.

 

"We went out and bought toys with this (money)," Joshua said.

 

Four area churches and a half-dozen nonprofit agencies contributed toys and home goods.

 

Leading the line of grateful recipients, Will Caton, 62, of Land O'Lakes, battling cancer, said in a raspy voice that he was hoping to secure food "and a dresser, if they have one. Maybe a couple of T-shirts ... and a prayer."

 

The retiree has a wife and son at home

Krystal Davis, 24, of Spring Hill said her greatest want was for a job, not among Saturday's offerings. But for her children, she was looking for Christmas Gifts. Her 4-year-old son wanted a remote-controlled Jeep. For her 1-year-old, "whatever there is."

 

Davis said she came to the giveaway "because we don't have any money ... nothing."

 

She said she works a couple of days a week, taking home about $200.

 

Christmas presents toys and clothes were on the wish list of Sarah Heine, 26, Spring Hill.

 

Of her children ages 1, 4 and 7, she said: "They're not picky."

 

Heine said she is employed, but her hours were reduced recently.

 

 

[Eagle92 110]

OUTSTANDING!

 

I know of an Eagle collected toys for the local "charity" hospital's pediatric ward. When the scout delivered the toys he collected, he cried afterwards and thanked God for his blessings.

[dg98adams 18]

Good thoughts, keep them all year. Thanks