It was a book first, then a claymation movie.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/t/...in-cobbler.htm 
Amazon
An old cobbler who has lost his wife and child many years before begins to feel life is not worth living. He gets a message that God is going to visit him. As he is waiting he meets several people who are just outside his door:
1. A young mother with infant who need the warmth of his fire. He invites them in and comforts the young mother.
2. A young boy who steals an apple from an old woman. He teaches the woman patience with the boy, and the boy offers to assist the woman by carrying her heavy load. He gives the boy an apple.
3. His old friend comes by to invite him to a celebration. He refuses to go, saying he feels older than his friend does.
4. A man of God who leaves a Bible for the cobbler to put a new binding on.
When all leave he is told that what he did for the least, he did for God. He celebrates what he now understands and ends up meeting with his old friend to go to the town celebration.
I have not read the book by Leo Tolstoy (1880s), but I have seen the movie several times. I would recommend it!
I found the book online, if you want to read it:
http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.or...christmas.html