On the 4th Day of Christmas Past,
Question: How did a candy heart turn into little blue dishes inside a little girl’s stocking?
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THE LITTLE BLUE DISHES
“We don’t have to be perfect to love one another. In fact, our love for each other enlarges when we give each other room to grow, to make mistakes, to repent, and to forgive. This traditional German folktale by an unknown author shows how love between siblings allows for mistakes and even has a way of working magic.
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS a poor woodcutter who lived with his wife and three children in a forest in Germany. There was a big boy called Hans and a little boy named Peter and a little sister named Gretchen, just five years old. When Christmas was getting near, the children went to the toy shop to look at all the toys.
“Gretchen,” said Peter, “what do you like best?”
“Oh! That little box of blue dishes,” said Gretchen. “That is the very best of all!”
On Christmas Eve the children hung up their stockings, although their mother had said that they were so poor they could not have much this Christmas. Hans ran out after supper to play with the big boys. Gretchen and Peter sat talking before the fire about the Christmas toys – and especially about the box of blue dishes.
By and by Gretchen ran off to bed and was soon asleep. Peter ran to look in his bank. There was only one penny, but he took it and ran quickly to the toy shop.
“What have you for a penny?” he said to the toy man.
“Only a small candy heart,” said the man.
“But I want that set of blue dishes,” said Peter.
“Oh, they cost ten cents,” said the man. So Peter bought the candy heart and put it in Gretchen’s stocking and then he ran off to bed.
Pretty soon Hans came home. He was cold and hungry. When he saw Gretchen’s stocking, he peeked in, then put his hand in and drew out the candy heart. “Oh”, said Hans, “how good this smells” – and before you could say a word he had eaten the candy heart.
“Oh dear,” he said, “that was for Gretchen for Christmas. I’ll run and buy something else for her.” So he ran to his bank and saw that he had ten pennies. Quickly he ran to the toy store.
“What have you got for ten pennies?” he asked the storekeeper.
“Well, I’m almost sold out,” said the toy man, “but here in this little box is a set of blue dishes.”
“I will take them,” said Hans, and home he ran and dropped the dishes into Gretchen’s stocking. Then he went to bed.
Early in the morning the children came running downstairs. “Oh!” said Gretchen. “Look at my stocking!” And when she saw the blue dishes, she was as happy as could be.
But Peter could never understand how his candy heart had changed into a box of blue dishes!”
The brothers each gave what they had to make a loved ones gift whatever they could give.
Peter wanted to buy Gretchen the best present he could but only had a penny & could only afford the heart. Hans felt guilty for eating the heart & realized that he needed to replace it in Gretchen’s stocking & he had 10 pennies that he could buy the dishes with. He also fulfilled Peter’s wish.
The brother ate the candy heart which was supposed to be a Christmas gift in Gretchen’s stocking so he went to the store and bought the blue dishes. Then he put then in her stocking to replace the candy heart that he ate.
Christmas magic
Peter bought the one thing his one penny could buy for his sister, Gretchen. A small piece of candy in the shape of a heart. Hans ate the candy by accident. He took his 10 pennies and replaced the candy with a set of blue dishes Gretchen really wanted.
Gretchen desired a gift of toy blue dishes, which her brother Peter could not afford. Instead, he bought a piece of candy for his sister. Their older brother Hans ate the candy and felt bad. Hans replaced the candy with the gift his sister had first asked Peter for.
This story is beautifully symbolic. If we, like Peter,give the Savior our mere penny He can send us an “accidental” angel like Hans to fulfill our righteous desires. He truly is all the difference.
This story is an example of how true love can work miracles.
This story shows to me that if you do what you can with good intent, God will help with the rest.
I guess you could say that Peter gave all he had out of pure love. Hans also gave out of love (and some guilt), and in the process fulfilled Peter’s desire to answer Gretchen’s wish. The Lord often uses us to fulfill His desire for others if we follow the Spirit.
This story reminds me of O’Henty’s “The Last Leaf”. When one gives all that he has (no matter how humble) it is enough in God & Christ’s eyes!
The two brothers loved their little sister and both wanted her to have a good Christmas. Peter gave every thing he had for a little heart. Hans then gave all he had to replace the little heart and by so doing got the wish of his sisters heart. The love this family showed for each other is like the love our Savior has for us. May we also share our love with others this Christmas.
Christmas is full of magic!
Lol- This story is a cute one! Peter sweetly bought the candy heart for Gretchen with the money he had, but Hans ate it, so Hans then ran to the store and used his money to buy the blue dishes!
Love
Each of the brothers gave all they had to make their sister wish come true.