Mr. Smith hammered away in his garage. He looked down the street and watched Mr. Jones and his sons hauling boxes into their garage. His brow furrowed, and his expression grew harder. He hit the nail harder. Whatever it was, this year, his Christmas display had to be bigger. 

For years, the two men had competed to have the biggest and best Christmas display. It started small. Mr. Jones put up some lights and a manager display with a large star on top. 

Every one admired it. Mr. Smith felt it made his crude manager that his father had used seem very lame. The next year, Mr. Smith built a large manager scene with lights decking out the stable. Mr. Jones felt it was an attack on his display, and so the following year had put lights all over his house. 

It grew every year from there. Now, both men worked for months to prepare an incredible light display that was timed and set to music. All Christmas season, crowds of people visited their street. The two neighbors had become bitter rivals. 

Thanksgiving weekend found both families out front working on setting up this year’s display, each hoping it would top the other, and during the business, they glanced toward the other’s yard to see what they had planned. 

Tommy Martin stood on his front lawn and watched them. He turned this way and that observing the work being done at the houses on either side of him and hearing the remarks called back and forth. He shoved his hands deeper into his pocket to stay warm. 

Walking into his house after Sunday school, his parents remarked that the Christmas spirit was taking hold of the neighborhood. Tommy looked over at the reindeer on the Jones roof and turned to look at Santa’s workshop in the Smith’s yard. Mr. Smith put the finishing touches on it. 

“What type of Christmas spirit,” he asked himself. 

When Tommy went out to play, it seemed to him the Christmas spirit still lacked in their neighborhood. He looked up at one splendid display to the other and thought of John the Baptist. They had talked about him in Sunday school and that the true Christmas spirit was one of humility and simple service. 

“We need some Christmas spirit here,” Tommy remarked to no one particular. “I wonder…”

He ran inside. His dad sat on the sofa watching the football game. “Dad,” Tommy asked, “can I set up some Christmas decorations in the front yard?”

His dad glanced up, “Did the neighbors inspire you? It will pale in comparison to them. I can’t afford that much.”

“It won’t cost anything, “Tommy said. “Please?”

“What’s the harm,” his mother asked. 

“If you want, you can,” his dad said. There are some lights in the garage you can use.”

Tommy ran out. He dashed to the woods at the back of the property, pulled out some old wooden pallets, and dragged four of them upfront. Gathering some tools from the garage, he started to hammer them together. A few odd boards created a roof. 

Tommy stepped back and surveyed his work with satisfaction. He went back to the woods and hauled up the hay bales the Jones had tossed from their fall decorations. He ran a hand over his face. It sure seemed warm that day. 

The hay was spread in his structure, and an old wooden box added as a manager. 

Tommy scratched his head and thought. He went back into the woods and rummaged around until he was back of the Jones place. He stopped and smiled. He ran up to their door and knocked. 

Mrs. Jones opened the door. “Can I have the man out in your woods?” Tommy asked. 

Mrs. Jones looked surprised at the mention of it. “Of course,” she answered. “That old rubbish needs dwelt with anyways.”

Tommy went back and hauled the fellow upfront. He went back to the woods. This time he found what he wanted behind the Smith’s house. Mrs. Smith had already told him he could have anything he wanted from back there. 

He hauled both the characters upfront and set them up. It was coming together now. The rest of the afternoon, he hunted around, and moving and dragging objects to his front yard. It was dark when he finally pulled an extension cord out from the garage and brought it around front. 

The lights from the Smith and Jones houses lit up his yard and the street. Already neighbors were coming out to view them the incredible displays. Tommy did not stop to admire them. He connected a work light into the extension cord and turned it on. 

Stepping back, he looked at his work and smiled. It was just what he wanted. Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones both stood in the street, arguing about their displays. They both looked toward Tommy’s.  

Something about the simplicity of the manger scene caused them to stop and stare. Mr. Smith walked closer to look at Mary, and Mr. Jones got a better view of Joseph. 

He turned to Mr. Smith, “I think this young man beat us both out,” he said, holding out his hand. “I forgot the meaning of Christmas in my competition and have brought no peace to earth. Will you forgive me?”

“I need to ask your forgiveness too,” Mr. Smith said, “and I want the simplicity of Christmas back. Maybe next year I’ll just pull out the old nativity.”

He turned to Tommy, “Young man, this is the best display on the street. Do you mind if I add a star?”

Tommy’s eye lit up. “That would be perfect! If it is simple and not overly colorful or anything.”

“Simple as can be,” Mr. Smith assured him. 

“Only as long as I can bring a few animals,” Mr. Jones said. “I found some of mine in the attic of my shed the other day.”

Tommy smiled as both men set up their contributions. Maybe the spirit of Christmas was not lost after all. Perhaps they just needed a simple reminder.