One of our long standing traditions is to have a Mexican food feast on Christmas Eve. Since I normally have had pastoral duties on Christmas Eve, our meal has had to wait until later in the evening. This is a tradition I look forward to every year, and each year we have a different group of guests for dinner that adds to the wonderful celebration of the Christmas season. I recently read a story about tamales, which are a main element of our Christmas Eve dinner.Carl Fenter was out trying to find tamales on a very cold Christmas Eve morning. He had the bright idea of having a tamale feast after the service, but he didn't think about it until Christmas Eve morning. Who would've guessed that every tamale shop in the city would be sold out the day before Christmas? But they were, as Carl knew. He'd been driving all over El Pasto that morning. Determined to bring home the tamales, Carl tried on last tienda, an old favorite out in Canutillo.
When he arrived, a fresh batch was due off the steamer in forty-five minutes. Taking his place at the end of the snaking line of tamale-seekers, he watched the woman in front of him remove her jacket to drape around her shivering youngster. It wasn't long before she, too, shuddered in the chilly wind. After only a moment's hesitation, Carl shed his own jacket and offered it to the grateful mother. Together they cheered when the line crept forward at last, and smiling people exited the shop toting steamy bags. Finally, Carl got inside the door and inched his way closer to the counter, the woman now first in line.
"Sorry folks," the cleark announced, "that's the last of the tamales." "No way!" Carl groaned with everyone else lined up behind him. "But," stressed the man at the counter, "we'll have a final batch ready in, oh, about two hours." Defeated, Carl backed away, but the young mother grabbed his arm.
"You're leaving?" "I have to," Carl glanced at this watch. "I promised to put up luminarias at my church." "I'll get your order of tamales and bring them to your house." Carl's brow furrowed. "I couldn't ask you to do that." "But it's the least I can do. You lent me your coat." Her smile overrode his objections. "Just give me your address."
And at exactly noon on Christmas Eve, four dozen fragrant tamales-along with Carl's brown jacket-arrived at his home. What a great act of Christmas kindness. Have you had any moments where you could provide Christmas kindness?
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