A Lamb's Tale

Christmas is coming to Odyssey, and Whit's Christmas Closet is filling up with gifts for families in need. Ten-year-old Tamika donates Cotton, the stuffed lamb she's slept with all her life - then realizes too late that she wants him back, just as Rodney Rathbone snatches the toy to blow up on video. A boy named Grady chases the lamb all the way to a rocket stuck high in a tree, risking a dangerous climb for reasons he won't explain. Meanwhile, Liz's brother Mark comes home from the war on crutches and starts giving away everything he owns... until a visit to the father of the friend who died saving him teaches Mark that some gifts can't be repaid, only accepted. At the Christmas banquet, Tamika spots Cotton in the arms of Grady's little sister and quietly says goodbye for good. From a beloved toy to a soldier's life, everyone in Odyssey discovers what giving really costs - and what it's worth.

Found on Along for the Ride Album 43 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

0551 Stars in Our Eyes With only days to invent a television commercial for Whit's End, the gang's wildly clashing visions collide - while Tamika's essay assignment sends her searching for what truly makes someone a hero.

0552 Sunday Morning Scramble Determined to finally arrive at church on time for their big Scripture recitation, the Washington family discovers that a laminated schedule is no match for gum-tangled hair, an uninvited neighbor in a bathrobe, and three secretly adjusted clocks.

0553 Potential Possibilities A boy tries to escape the gifted class he's convinced he doesn't belong in, while Aubrey and Tom Riley strike a bargain that forces each to face a fear of failing at what they do best.

0554 Call Me if You Care A late Christmas card and a stranger's misdirected phone messages pull Connie into reuniting a father and daughter separated for twenty years - forcing her to face her anger at her own dad.

0555 True Calling When two retired comedy magicians are asked to fill in at a school assembly, their crisis of confidence collides with a student's fears about chasing an impractical dream.

0556 And That's the Truth When Tamika vows to always tell the truth, she learns the hard way that honesty without kindness can hurt as much as a lie - while Jack discovers that avoiding hard truths carries its own cost.

0557 A Lamb's Tale A Christmas donation drive in Odyssey sets three intertwined stories of giving in motion, as a girl parts with her beloved stuffed lamb, a boy uncovers his uncle's hidden past, and a wounded soldier returns from war carrying a secret.

0558 A Glass Darkly Falsely blamed for a food fight, a young musician must choose between clearing his name and trusting God when detention threatens the audition of a lifetime.

0559 The Coolest Dog Marvin's dream of rock stardom with his two-person band hits a snag when his ego proves louder than his drums.

0560 The Present Long Ago When a classmate demands the school lab key and won't say why, an anxious boy cycles through imagined advisers and wild theories before finding a wiser way to face him.

0561 Lost By a Nose Determined to expose her town's beauty-pageant obsession, a skeptical young journalist goes undercover as a contestant - and gets far more invested than she planned.

0562 The Last 'I Do' When a Roman emperor outlaws marriage to build a more loyal army, a defiant priest named Valentine risks everything to keep performing forbidden weddings.

0563 Tuesdays with Wooton A lonely boy's mailbox scheme unravels when the mailman he's been fooling decides friendship is worth more than an easy confession.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 4 more roles

4 supporting roles

Samantha McKay Mary Mouser Mike Mulligan Bill Myers Mark Horton Mikey Kelley Mr. Cruz Gil Ellis

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Marshal Younger Writer · Director · Producer Rob Jorgensen Sound Designer · Producer Bob Hoose Producer Paul McCusker Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 3 min

As Christmas approaches, Whit collects clothing and household items for the Christmas Closet. Ten-year-old Tamika adds Cotton, the stuffed lamb she has slept with for most of her life. She insists that she is old enough to let someone else enjoy the toy, though her long farewell makes the sacrifice much harder than she wants to admit.

Whit also visits Mike Mulligan, who is sorting through his attic with Nick. An old yearbook reveals that Mike had studied business at the University of Chicago and had once been voted most likely to succeed. Nick is surprised that his uncle has not pursued a more impressive career, especially after learning that Mike turned down a promising job at Universal Press.

At the Horton home, Liz proudly welcomes her brother Mark back from military service. Mark is on crutches after being wounded by shrapnel, but he brushes aside his injury and offers nearly everything he owns to the Christmas Closet. Liz is troubled by his determination to give away his clothes, golf clubs, stereo, and other belongings. She senses that something happened during the war, but Mark refuses to discuss it.

During the collection, Cotton falls from Whit's vehicle. A boy named Grady sees it and follows the donations all the way to Whit's End. There he finds Rodney Rathbone taking the lamb for a homemade video in which he plans to blow things up. Grady refuses to let Rodney destroy it, although he will not explain why the toy matters so much.

Tamika soon admits that she is not ready to lose Cotton after all. She asks Whit for the lamb back, only to learn that Rodney has carried it away. While Tamika mourns her missing friend, Grady tracks Rodney to a field and discovers Cotton tied to a failed model rocket high in a tree. He climbs after the lamb despite Rodney's warnings and falls when a branch breaks, but he comes down safely with Cotton in his arms.

Nick continues investigating the opportunity Mike rejected. When he notices the date on which another man accepted the position, he finally understands: Mike received the offer at about the same time he adopted Nick. Since Nick needed to live away from the city, Mike gave up the Chicago job and the success it might have brought. Mike tells his nephew that he did not receive the lesser part of the bargain, because accepting the job would have meant not having Nick.

The discovery changes Nick's attitude. He stops pressing Mike to find a high-paying position and stays to help sort the attic, allowing his bicycle repair and thoughts of a large television to wait. Mike's quiet choice has shown him that love sometimes measures success very differently.

Mark finally visits the father of his friend Ron Cruz. During a battle, an explosion injured Mark's leg in an abandoned hospital. Ron threw Mark from a second-story window before another blast destroyed the room, sacrificing his own life to save him. Mark has been giving away his possessions and planning a life of good works because he wants Ron's father to believe that he was worth the price Ron paid.

Mr. Cruz is grateful to hear how his son died, but he tells Mark that Ron's sacrifice cannot be earned. Ron was a Christian who lived generously and finally gave everything for his friend. Rather than spending his life trying to repay an impossible debt, Mark can accept the gift and live.

At the Christmas banquet, Tamika spots Cotton in the arms of a little girl named Samantha. Samantha says her father gave her the lamb and explains that it has returned after she lost it at a bus station. Grady is Samantha's brother; he has risked Rodney's cruelty and a dangerous climb to restore the toy to her. Tamika quietly lets Samantha believe Cotton made the long journey home and says goodbye once more, this time allowing the lamb to go.

As the donated gifts are loaded for delivery, Whit thanks everyone for freely giving time and possessions to bring joy to others. Around him, small and great sacrifices reflect the love of Christ - from a beloved childhood toy to a career opportunity, and even one soldier's life for another.