A Christmas Story from Lori Baker

It was 1965 and I was 14 years old.

Christmas Day I had to work. I was a kitchen Aid at a private nursing home in Calgary, Alberta.

Breakfast was about to be served in the lunch room and we had a patient who was always challenging to get there.  He spoke no English only Italian and his name was Jimmy an 80 year old cobbler.

That Christmas the song on the radio was Buon Natale means Merry Christmas to you by Nat King Cole.

With that jingle in my head I thought I would say it to Jimmy.  The Matron at the time said he wouldn’t respond.  I had a prayer, as I was very much a follower of our Saviour Jesus Christ and just knew he would be there with me. The miracle happened and Jimmy lit up and even his eyes got brighter and he smiled and said to me “little girl, Merry Christmas “.

To this day at the age of 72 I still think of Jimmy and our Saviour and that gift that was a very special one never to be forgotten with the help of Jesus.

Submitted by

Lori Baker

Kamloops 1st Ward