And You Will Find Love

"He doesn't have a tree!" Paul said to Barbara and Gail.

"You can't have a Christmas party without a Christmas tree.

Let's go back out and get him one."

Barbara thought it was the most wonderful thing she had ever heard. How thoughtful, how romantic of Paul.

"Be right back!" Paul called out to their host.

The three friends put their coat collars up again against the bitterly cold winter night, and the snow that had fallen all day crunched under their boots, and walked out in search of a Christmas tree.

They walked for several blocks with frosty steam coming out of their mouths as they talked. Finally, after looking at several intersections in vain, there was a tree lot.

An old man was just turning off the lights at eleven o'clock when Paul called to him. The man turned the high-strung naked light bulbs on again on his lot so they could look his trees over.

After only a few minutes, the friends agreed on a tall but thin spruce that looked healthy and beautiful. It would not take up much more room than perhaps one guest in Bill Hughes's living room.

Paul looked hopefully at the tree seller. "Where can we buy some lights and ornaments?"

"Up the block," the man suggested. "There's a deli that might still be open. I think they sell what you want."

Paul carried the tree and led the way as the girls followed talking and laughing while they clapped their gloved hands together to try to warm themselves. At the end of another block they found a small food shop whose owner had a few strings of Christmas tree lights and boxes of ornaments for sale.

With the tree and decorations in their arms, the friends made their way back to the party. Cheers and applause greeted them as they returned to Bill Hughes's apartment. Half a dozen guests put their drinks down and helped put up the tree and string the lights and ornaments. Soon everyone was singing carols beside the tree which looked like the most beautiful and wonderful Christmas tree Barbara had ever seen.

She was so involved in looking at the tree, she almost missed seeing the kiss Gail gave Paul. Not on the lips, but on the cheek and with as close to passion as she dared.

It made Barbara realize again how important Paul was to her best friend. Could he be even that important to God? And, perhaps even of greater concern to her, Could I be even that important to Paul?