The Saturday Journal: Finding Christmas Again (A Christmas story)
- tathelmillerwriter
- Dec 9, 2023
- 10 min read
Kate’s Diner has been a cornerstone in the small community of Spring River for over 40 years–an anchor for many in need of a hot meal–a smile. The sign outfront was worn and tattered, but the message still remained the same–Pay What You Can. Come Hungry. Leave Full. Jesus Loves You!
During her lifetime, Kate Wells’ tables were filled with country cooking–daily specials such as fried chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, chocolate fudge cake, and everyday in December–warm Christmas cookies. And during the year Kate welcomed each person as if she was welcoming them to her own home–which was what the diner was to her–home. Where she served with her heart–her hands and her resources.
It was one of those rare days when she had to be away from the diner. An appointment in the nearby town of Salem. “I’ll be back around noon for the lunch crowd,” Kate said as she took off her Santa apron and grabbed her purse.
They all thought it was a little strange. Kate never missed a day at the diner. Never. She did have friends in Salem she visited when they needed groceries–books–balls of yarn or some new crochet hooks. But those visits were always on Sunday afternoons.
“Where are you going?” her daughter Jules asked, confused about her Mama’s sudden need to leave.
“Don’t forget to change out the breakfast menu! I won’t be gone long.”
The office–it was friendly enough. Mostly women and some men waiting patiently for their wives or mothers to return. Nurse JoAnne called her name. “Miss Kate, how are you feeling today?”
“I’m as spry as always. Tell Dr. George I need to make this appointment short! My lunch customers will be coming to the diner soon. Today’s special is meatloaf!”
“Your meatloaf for lunch? I wish our office was closer,” Nurse JoAnne laughed. “Dr. George will be right with you.”
“Good morning Kate! I hear I need to send someone from the office to Spring River and pick up meatloaf for lunch!” Dr. George smiled, sitting in the chair beside her–placing his hands on hers.
“Kate, I’m sorry. I wish I had better news. The cancer has spread. And surgery is not an option. With chemo you may have six months–without chemo–maybe three. This will not be easy Kate–either way. Do you want me to come to the diner and we can tell Jules together?”
She sat for a few minutes–numb–wringing her tired hands together as if she was kneading dough for the dinner rolls. His words were not welcome or expected. She wanted to cry but the tears would not come. Only a song–and she began to hum softly one of her favorite hymns, Blessed Assurance–Jesus is mine! This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long
The Christmas bell rang loud as the elderly lady walked in the diner. Her body looked frail–leaning onto her cane for support and her black purse matching her stockings.
“Good morning,” Jules greeted her. “You can sit anywhere. We just changed our menu over to our lunch specials. I’ll be over to take your order in a minute.”
“Jules, you want me to take her order?” Carol asked.
“No, you keep decorating the tree,” as Jules looked over at the table where the lady sat. She took a deep breath and whispered to herself, “Another mouth to feed. I just don’t know anymore.”
“Good morning again. What would you like?”
“Coffee is fine with a little sugar, dear,” she said solemnly. “It will take away the chill. Snow’s coming you know.”
“Is this all, ma’am? No lunch? We just changed our breakfast menu and we have lots of lunch specials and lots of desserts. And pay what you can.”
“I see that. Thank you. Coffee is all, please.”
Carol and Robin were crowded around the Christmas Angel tree untangling lights and sorting out ornaments while Jules served the lady her coffee. Afterwards she kept busy–cleaning tables and running back and forth to the kitchen area to check on the batch of Christmas cookies cooling on the counter. She gave a glance into the dining room and watched as the lady lifted the coffee to her lips–her hands shaking to keep the cup still. Maybe she would like a warm cookie, Jules thought.
“Ma’am, are you sure you don’t want some lunch or maybe a dessert? I have these fresh warm Christmas cookies–just out of the oven,” holding a plate of cookies.
“No, but that is very nice of you to offer,” she replies in a soft voice. “Can you sit for a minute? I have a question for you.”
Jules looked around at the busy diner and reluctantly sat down with the lady. It wasn’t unusual for customers to want someone to sit with them and talk awhile, but today was just not a good day for small talk.
“Yes, ma’am, but I only have a few minutes.”
“Oh, I won’t take up too much of your time,” and she reached over and placed her hand on Jules’ hand. “Dear, I’ve been watching you running around the restaurant finding things to do. Everything except decorating the Christmas tree. Why is that? There is so much joy in putting up a Christmas tree–especially an Angel tree.”
Startled by the woman’s question, she replied, “I’m not much into the Christmas season, Christmas trees, Jesus’ birth, and all of that.”
“You used to be, Jules. What changed?”
Jules pulled her hand away, irritated at this woman who seemed to know her–even calling her by name. “Ma’am, have we met?”
“Jules, listen, please. Mama Kate loved Christmas time. You did too. She loved serving everyday, but there was something about the month of December when her smile grew even larger. I know it has been a hard year. It would hurt your Mama to see you this sad–especially this time of the year.”
Without saying another word, Jules jumped up from her chair and ran past Carol and Robin and into the back room of the diner slamming the door.
Carol looks at Robin, surprised and then at the lady at the table, “What’s going on? She was just sitting at that table talking to that lady? What would a sweet old lady say to upset Jules like that? Was it something else altogether? I’ll go talk to the lady. See if you can talk to Jules.”
“Is everything okay? Is there anything else I can get you?” Carol asked the elderly lady.
“No, I’m sorry I upset Jules,” she said, reaching into her purse. “Can you give this to Jules and also, here’s money for my coffee.”
“Sure, I’ll give it to her,” Carol said, placing the paper into her apron pocket. “I’ll be back with your change. I may have to go to the back room. Not sure we have that much money in the register just yet.”
“That’s not necessary,” she smiled. “You don’t owe me any change. Thank you for what you do for this community.”
“Where’s Jules? Is she still in the backroom?” Carol asked Robin as they continued decorating the tree.
“Shh! She’s in the kitchen taking the cakes out of the oven,” Robin whispered.
Carol leaned in close to Robin and asked, “Did you find out what happened?”
The diner door opened once again to the sound of the bells interrupting Carol and Robin’s conversation–
“Hey honey! ” Jules’ husband, Ben, yelled loudly. “Me and the girls thought we would come and surprise you. Get us some take-out or we can eat here.”
Abigail, all of six-years old with blonde curls ran to the menu and shouted, “Look, Chocolate Fudge Cakes is on the menu! Can we Mama??? Please!!!”
“I don’t know about that,” Jules said, rubbing her forehead.
“Now Mama, come on. A little cake never hurt anyone,” Ben answered, touching her arm gently, “What’s wrong Jules?”
“It’s nothing,” Jules replied, hanging her head. “I’m sorry. Tough customer this morning, already.”
Josie, Abigail’ twin sister–same curls–same blue eyes ran over to the Angel Christmas tree in excitement. “I love the Angel tree and Grandma Kate loved it too! I miss her. Can we buy for one of the angels on the tree this year, Mama, can we?”
“Maybe one. We will talk about it later. Girls, I need to get back in the kitchen. I’ll see you and Daddy later on at home.”
Ben and the girls give Jules a hug and take their order home with them–three meatloaf dinners and three big pieces of Chocolate Fudge cake–courtesy of Carol and Robin.
Robin was busy cleaning the back table of the diner when she discovered an envelope left by a customer, “Jules, you need to come out to the dining room now!”
“Can’t it wait a minute,” Jules said, rolling her eyes.
“No, it can’t!” Robin said, holding up the envelope in the air.
“You rushed me over here to show me an envelope with our name on it? Probably a tip or note. We get small donations and notes all the time, Robin!”
Robin shoved the envelope in Jules’ hand. “I’m telling you Jules! Look at this! Look inside!”
Jules opened the envelope and there were hundreds of dollar bills stuffed inside–lots of them.
“Five thousand dollars!” Robin shouted in a loud voice. Loud enough for the customers up at Ole Joe’s Muffler to hear.
“Geez, tell everyone on Main Street, Robin!” Jules said.
Carol hurried over to Jules and Robin to see what the commotion was about.
“Who was sitting at this table, Robin?” Jules asked.
“A man–I’ve never seen him here before. He ordered two big Christmas Cookies and a chicken dinner to go.”
“We have to find that man–give this back–did anyone see his car?” she asked the other customers. No one knew him. New in town perhaps?
“There’s a note too, Jules. We are supposed to use the donation for the Christmas meal here on Christmas Day. For our community meal.”
“Robin, we can’t keep this money,” Jules said sharply. “We are closing that day, remember? Christmas Community Meal is canceled.”
The dinner crowd was slightly off and Jules, being exhausted from the day’s events and stress, told Robin and Carol to go home early and she would finish cleaning and lock up.
“Are you sure we can’t stay and help you?” Carol asked.
“No, but thank you,” Jules answered. “I need some time to be alone before going home.”
“Oh, I almost forgot to give you this,” Carol said, reaching her hand in her apron pocket pulling out what looked like an invitation. The elderly lady that was here earlier this morning who knew your name asked me to give it to you.”
“What now? It's an invitation to a Christmas program,” said Jules. Come Celebrate Christmas with Us! Come as You Are! All are Welcome! Program begins at 7 pm at the Spring River Community Church.
“Has either of you ever seen that woman in here before?" asked Jules. "She knew my name and talked about Mama. It’s been a strange day!”
Carol and Robin said in one accord–“Angels!”
“What?” Jules said, sounding surprised.
“Bible says we sometimes entertain angels among us,” said Robin. “The woman who knew your name and Mama Kate’s story–who left this invitation for you. The man who left the donation of money to help us feed the community on Christmas Day–the day we were planning to close because we didn’t have the money.”
And Carol added, “Jules, maybe you and Ben and the girls are supposed to go to that Christmas program tonight. Maybe we need to reconsider and open on Christmas Day for our Community Meal.”
“I’ll see you both in the morning,” Jules said solemnly, locking the door behind them.
Jules looks again at the Christmas invitation as she walks over to the Christmas Angel Tree. She pulls one of the children’s names off the tree and then another and places two in her pocket–one for each of her girls. And under the tree is a framed picture of her Mama. She picks it up and holds it close to her heart, “Oh Mama, what should I do?”
And in the stillness, she knew the only thing she could do. She fell to her knees in prayer.
“I miss her so much, God. She would be so disappointed in me right now. Wanting to cancel the Christmas meal. Being angry and bitter at You. For so many things. I’m so sorry, God. I don’t want to live this way any longer. Please forgive me.”
And she rose to her feet–her face watered with what felt like holy tears. Grabbing her phone, she frantically began punching numbers. “Ben, you and the girls meet me here at the restaurant as soon as you can. And wear clean clothes!”
The candles were glowing in the windows while the pastor stood in front of a full house of worship. He was welcoming everyone to the Community Church’s Christmas program when the wind caught the door and slammed hard.
“Come in, please come in,” and he motioned for Jules and her family to come and sit on the front pew. There’s a few seats here–saved just for you. Girls, would you like to be in our Christmas program? I’m sure we can find a couple of extra angel costumes just your size.”
Jules wiped a tear watching her baby girls sing Away in a Manger–her angels with their eyes shining as bright as the lights on the tree. And Ben pulled her close. “Jules, are you okay?” he whispered.
The program ended with the congregation joining in song singing, Joy to the World. And the pastor before he closed in prayer, he asked if anyone had something they would like to share.
“Pastor, can I share something with you, with all of you?” Jules asked.
“By all means, please do,” he said, graciously.
“My Mama opened Kate’s Diner just down the road here, some 40 years ago–the “Pay What You Can” little diner. Mama told every customer before they left, Jesus loved them and He is good. My Mama died last year. She was working daily–doing God’s work–serving others–being the hands and feet of Jesus. I’ve been angry with God and bitter. There’s not been a day over the past year that I haven’t wanted to close the diner. And this year I decided to cancel the tradition of our Christmas Day Community Meal that Mama loved the most. She would have never done that.
"The reason my family and I are here tonight–I believe God sent two angels to the diner today–one with an invitation to your Christmas program. And the other with a large donation to pay for the Christmas Day meal. God never left me even when I left Him. I know my Mama is smiling in heaven this Christmas and every day.
"Thank you for welcoming us to your Christmas program and for including our girls. Now I would like to extend an invitation to each of you–You are all invited to our Christmas Day Community Meal. All are welcome. Jesus loves you! And He is good!"
Finding Christmas Again is a story I wrote in 2022 and my church used the story for our Christmas play.
I am thankful God allowed me to be a small part of this special play last year. The young people and adults in our play did a wonderful job bringing the story to life.
Special Advent Series
Beginning the first Sunday in December, A Four-Part Advent Series
Her Story is always His Story
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All photos @copyright Tathel Miller, unless otherwise credited to another photographer.
Such a beautiful Christmas story!