I've always liked "The Story of the Other Wise Men," a classic written by Henry van Dyke over 100 years ago.  It was made into a movie entitled "The Fourth Wise Men" a while back, featuring Martin Sheen and his son, Charlie, before the latter's career took a decidedly non-family oriented turn.

Much folklore surrounds the arrival of the magi from the east in Bethlehem, celebrated annually at this time of year.  "We Three Kings," as the song suggests, may not even be accurate.  The Bible does not actually say how many there were.  And we don't know their names.  All we know is that they were learned men who observed a unique distribution of celestial bodies that appeared about 2012 years ago.

The fictitious fourth wise man has a name, and it is Artaban. Much to the dismay of his family, closest friends and servants, "Art" sells most of what he has and takes off in search of a baby in Israel.  Being kind of a bumble-head and not as worldly competent as the other three wise men, however, he soon finds himself far behind, unable to catch up with his companions.  This is mostly because he stops to "smell the roses," as they say, and also quite often because he's helping out somebody who is hungry, without shelter, or in need of his time and/or money in some other way.  He ends up helping a lot of people, but misses the chance to see Jesus, who by the time he gets to Bethlehem, has already left with his family to go to Egypt.   

But DOES he miss him entirely?   I find I feel closest to God when I am helping someone in need.  It's one reason I identify with this story.  That, and the part about being a bumble-head.

Download the book on your Nook, or whatever, and read it to your children or grandchildren.  It's worth passing on.