Lisa Barry: Yesterday on Gateway To Joy we heard part one of a story about Mr. Gloomy. It's just one of a collection of stories Elisabeth Elliot has decided to share with you this Christmas season. Because the holiday is often overshadowed by push and shove, we thought it might be nice to offer a little oasis for you. This is time to relax, free your mind of cumbersome thoughts and just let your imagination paint a living picture in your mind. It's 15 minutes of holiday spirit just for you. So let's get going with today's Gateway To Joy with the conclusion of Mr. Gloomy. Here's Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says. "And underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot, continuing a Christmas story today called MR. GLOOMY. It's the story of a woodcarver who was very gruff and very impatient and not at all hospitable to the widow and her son, Thomas, who wanted him to carve some animals for them for Christmas.

"A few days later, there was a knock on the woodcarver's door. He smoothed down his hair as he went to answer it. At the door were the widow and her son. 'May I watch again?' asked Thomas.

As Mrs. MacDowell warmed the tea and put a plate of fresh molasses cookies on the workbench, Thomas watched the woodcarver work on the figure of an angel.

After a very long time, Thomas spoke. 'Mr. Toomy, excuse me. Is that my angel you're carving?' 'Yes. And would you do me the favor of telling me exactly what I'm doing wrong?' 'Well, my angel looked like one of God's most important angels, because it was sent to baby Jesus.' 'And just how does one make an angel look important?' asked the woodcarver. 'You'll be able to do it,' said Thomas. 'You are the best woodcarver in the valley.'

After another very long time, Thomas spoke. 'Mr. Toomy, excuse me. May I ask a question?' 'Do you ever stop talking?' asked the woodcarver. 'My mother says I don't. She says I could learn about the virtue of silence from you.' Under his beard, the woodcarver's face turned pink. The widow MacDowell's face turned as red as the scarf she was knitting.

'Well, speak up. What is your question?' 'Will you please teach me to carve?' 'I am a very busy man,' grumbled the woodcarver, but he put down the important angel. 'You will carve a bird.' 'A robin, I hope,' said Thomas. 'I like robins.'

With a piece of charcoal, the woodcarver sketched a robin on a piece of brown paper. He handed Thomas a small block of pine and a knife. He showed him how to lop the corners from the block and slowly smooth the edges of the wood into curves. Thomas copied the woodcarver's strokes, head bent, tongue working from side to side of his lower lip as he concentrated.

When the church bells chimed at six o'clock, Jonathan Toomy was holding Thomas' hand in his, guiding the knife along the edge of a wing. He didn't hear the ringing. The widow MacDowell said it was time to leave. Thomas brushed wood shavings from his shirt. Then he reached out and brushed two especially large pieces of wood shaving from Jonathan Toomy's beard. He thanked the woodcarver for teaching him how to carve.

Later, after a supper of boiled potatoes and molasses cookies, Jonathan Toomy went to his workbench. He thought for a long time. He sketched drawing after drawing. Finally, he picked up his carving knife. He picked up the angel. He carved until his eyelids drooped shut.

A few days later, there was a knock on the woodcarver's door. Mr. Toomy jumped to answer it." You remember that Mr. Toomy used to grumble when there was a knock on the door. This time he jumped to answer it.

"There stood the widow MacDowell with a bouquet of pine boughs and holly sprigs dotted with berries. And there stood Thomas, clutching his partly carved robin. While Thomas and Mr. Toomy carved, Mrs. MacDowell put the bouquet in a jar of water. She scrubbed Mr. Toomy's kitchen table and set the jar in the center on a pretty cloth, embroidered with lilies of the valley and daisies, which she had found in a drawer below the cupboard.

'Next I will carve the wise men and Joseph,' the woodcarver said to Joseph. 'Perhaps before I begin you will tell me about all the mistakes I'm going to make.'

'Well,' said Thomas. 'My wise men were wearing their most wonderful robes, because they were going to visit Jesus. My Joseph was leaning over baby Jesus, like he was protecting Him. He looked very serious.'

It wasn't until the church bells had chimed and the widow and her son were preparing to go that Mr. Toomy saw the jar of pine boughs and the scrubbed table and the cloth embroidered with lilies of the valley and daisies.

'I found the cloth in a drawer. I thought it would look pretty on the table,' the widow MacDowell said, smiling. 'Never open that drawer,' said Mr. Toomy harshly. When the two had left, Jonathan put the cloth away.

That evening, after a supper of boiled potatoes, the woodcarver worked on Joseph and the wise men until his eyelids drooped shut.

A few days later there was a knock on the woodcarver's door. He dusted the crumbs from his beard and brushed the sawdust from his shirt. At the door were the widow MacDowell and Thomas. All afternoon, Thomas watched the woodcarver work.

When it was time to leave, Jonathan said to Thomas, 'I am about to begin the last two figures, Mary and the baby. Can you tell me how your figures looked?'

'They were the most special of all,' said Thomas. 'Jesus was smiling and reaching up to His mother. Mary looked as though she loved Him very much.' 'Thank you, Thomas,' said the woodcarver.

'Tomorrow is Christmas. Is there any chance the figures will be ready?' the widow MacDowell asked.

'They will be ready when they are ready.'

'I understand,' said the widow. She handed Jonathan two packages. 'Merry Christmas,' she said. Jonathan folded his arms across his chest. 'I want no presents,' he said harshly. 'That is exactly why we are giving them,' answered the widow. She put them down on the table and left.

Jonathan sat down at the table. Slowly he opened the first package. Inside was a red scarf, hand-knit, warm and bright. He tied the scarf around his neck. The other package held a robin, crudely carved of pine. A smile twitched at the corners of Jonathan's mouth as he ran his fingers over the lopsided wings. He dusted the fireplace mantle with his sleeve and placed the robin exactly in the center, so he could look at it from his chair.

The woodcarver did not eat supper that day. Instead, he began to sketch the final figures, Mary and Jesus. He drew Mary, then wadded the sketch into a ball and tossed it on the floor. He drew the baby, wadded the sketch into a ball and tossed it with the first. He sketched again. Once more, he crumpled the paper. Soon there was a small mountain of crumpled papers at his feet.

He picked up a block of wood and tried to carve, but his knife would not do what he wanted it to do. He hurled the chunk of wood into the fireplace and sat staring into the flames. When he heard the church bells announcing the midnight Christmas service, he got up.

Slowly, he opened the drawer beneath the cupboard, the drawer he had told the widow never to open. From it, he took the cloth embroidered with lilies of the valley and daisies. He took out a rough woolen shawl and a lace handkerchief. He took out a tiny white baby blanket and a little pair of blue socks. He placed each piece gently on the floor.

From the bottom of the drawer, he lifted out a picture frame, beautifully carved of deep, brown chestnut wood. In the frame was a charcoal sketch of a woman sitting in a rocking chair, holding a baby. The baby's arms were reaching up, touching the Mama's face. The woman was looking down at the baby, smiling. Jonathan sat down in his rocking chair and held the picture against his chest. He rocked slowly, his eyes closed. Two tears trailed into his beard.

When he finally took the picture to his workbench and began to carve, his fingers worked quickly and surely. He carved all through the night.

The next day, there was a knock on the widow MacDowell's door. When she opened it, there stood the woodcarver, his neck wrapped in a red scarf, holding a wooden box stuffed with straw. 'Mr. Toomy!' said the widow. 'What a surprise! Merry Christmas!'

'The figures are ready,' he said, as he stepped inside. From the box, Jonathan unpacked two curly sheep, happy sheep because they were with Jesus. He unpacked a proud cow and an angel, a very important angel with mighty wings, stretching from its shoulders right down to the hem of its gown. He unpacked three wise men, wearing their most beautiful robs edged with fur and falling in rich folds. He unpacked a serious and caring Joseph. He unpacked Mary, wearing a rough woolen shawl, looking down, loving her precious baby Son. Jesus was smiling and reaching up to touch His mother's face.

That day Jonathan went to the Christmas service with the widow MacDowell and Thomas. That day in the church yard, the village children saw Jonathan throw back his head, showing his eyes as clear as an August sky, and laugh. No one ever called him Mr. Gloomy again."

I'd like you children to tell us what you think that story means. What do you think happened to Mr. Toomy, who was Mr. Gloomy? Why did he stop being gloomy?

Lisa Barry: I feel like this is where I'm supposed to say, "Stop the tape for group discussion." I'm sure you parents will enjoy your children's take on today's story. I'm always amazed at the funny way kids look at things, but also the depth with which they understand. More than likely they'll want to hear this story again, and that could be a sure thing if you decide to purchase the tape series. It includes ten programs from this week and next, and it's all Christmas stories. The cost is $13, and that includes shipping and handling.

We'd also like to remind you about our gift packets for men, women and young adults. There's a little something for everyone, so give us a call and we'll tell you all about them. By the way, today is the last day we can ensure your order will arrive by December 24, so do call today.

Here's our phone number: 1-800-759-4JOY. That's 1-800-759-4569. Or you can write to us at Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68501. Our Internet ministry address is gatewaytojoy.org. Gateway To Joy has been a production of Back to the Bible.

Tomorrow Elisabeth reads another great story called GIFTS FOR JESUS, so be sure and join us then for another Gateway To Joy.