There's wrapping paper, bows, boxes, ribbons, left-overs and, most important of all - MEMORIES - Memories of another blessed Christmas with family and friends.
What more could anyone ask for?
And, don't forget the snow - it is snowing again.
I am going to do something a little different today. I am going to share a story with you, one that I have written and is included in Volume III of my IF ONLY I COULD TALK books. All of my stories are written from the subjects point-of-view. I hope you enjoy.
DONKEY'S
STORY
I am cold and
tired. The journey has been long. I am a donkey. I don't have any other name except
"Donkey". I belong to a man
named Joseph. He has always been kind to
me, sees that I have enough to eat, a dry place to stay. But this journey has been long and hard. If I am cold and tired, I can't begin to
imagine how Joseph and Mary must feel.
Joseph did not want
to undertake this journey, especially with Mary
expecting a child any time. How
do I know this? I might be just a donkey,
but I do understand what they talk about.
But to get back to
the story.
All citizens have
been ordered to Bethlehem for something called a census and taxation.
Joseph was very
considerate of Mary. At the beginning
Mary walked along side of Joseph, they talked, sometimes laughed, but were
always together. Occasionally I had to
slow down as Mary would tire, and there were times we would stop to rest.
Today, though, when
we were preparing to continue our journey, Joseph did not place their
belongings on my back, but instead placed a rough blanket and helped Mary
up. I would be carrying her instead of
their belongings.
Then Joseph did a
most unusual thing. He placed their
belongings on his own back. In that
fashion we resumed our journey to Bethlehem.
Mary cried as she saw
him struggling with their few necessities, but he wiped her tears away and told
her not to cry. He could handle
this. He said we were just a short
distance away, and should arrive sometime late in the day.
Later, as we were
walking, I heard Mary gasp, and cry out, not loud, just sort of a whimper. Joseph stopped immediately and asked what was
wrong. She just sort of laughed, then
said she thought she was going into labor, the baby would probably be born
before morning.
Poor Joseph, he
looked so frightened. Coming to my head
he placed a hand on me and told me that we would have to hurry. Mary needed a place to lay down, a bed and a
roof over their heads. I immediately
picked up my pace, which isn't to say much, as I only have slow and
slower. But I tried.
As we approached the
gates to the city I couldn't believe how many other travelers were already
there. We had seen some on the road, but
nothing like this. Where did they all come
from?
Finding a sheltered
corner, Joseph left Mary and me, saying he would find us a place to stay. He started to leave, but turned back and
asked Mary if she would be all right. He
looked so worried, that I had to do my "donkey grin". She told him that for now she would be all
right, but that they would probably be parents before morning.
Boy did he run to
find a place to stay.
We waited and
waited. I could tell Mary was in great
pain. I became quite worried. What could I do?
Finally I saw Joseph
hurrying toward us. How relieved I was,
but then saw his face and knew something was very wrong.
Almost in tears
Joseph related that there were no rooms anywhere in the great city of
Bethlehem. All were filled to
overlfowing. He said he had just about
given up hope when the last Inn he entered had a compassionate inn-keeper. He told Joseph that although there were no
rooms available, he did have a small stable behind the Inn, which had clean hay
inside and would protect us from the weather.
Crying, Mary answered
that ANYWHERE would be good, we needed to get there as soon as we could.
Arriving at the
stable, Joseph hurriedly gathered together large armloads of sweet smelling
hay, making a bed for Mary to lie on.
While he was doing this I watched as Mary carefully sat down on the side
of a feed trough. I just stood there,
waiting, not knowing what I should do.
Once the bed was
finished Joseph gently helped Mary lay down on the bed of hay. Then Joseph turned to leave, saying something
about somebody called a mid-wife when she cried NO - THERE IS NO TIME! OUR BABY IN ON THE WAY.
I wish you could have
seen Joseph's face - he was white as a ghost, wringing his hands. Mary told him not to worry, she had helped
deliver babies before, just do whatever she told him to do.
I moved further back
into the stable where I found some oats and a little bit of hay. So I decided to have my supper. I tried not to pay too much attention to the
humans as I figured they would do what they had to do.
Suddenly I heard a
faint cry, then Mary's weak voice and Joseph answering that they had a
SON. He was God's Son and his name was
JESUS, as God had instructed.
At that time I really
didn't understand what all the fuss was about.
I moved a little closer and saw a really tiny person, wrapped in some
sort of cloth, with only his hands and head visible.
The next thing Joseph
did was prepare a very little bed in one of the feed troughs in the stable, and
then he laid that tiny little person on that bed of soft, sweet-smelling hay, a
bed in a manger.
Mary drifted off to
sleep, Joseph sat watching. After our
long journey I was so tired that I drifted off to sleep also.
Suddenly I was
awakened by a bright light shining right into the stable. Looking up I saw this big beautiful star
right above us, shining down on the baby.
And the singing. I have never
heard any more beautiful music that I did right then. I thought I must be dreaming, but Joseph said
something about "Angels" everywhere singing and telling the world
that GOD'S SON had been born, telling them not to be afraid.
Suddenly I heard a
strange new sound, very faint and soft, but gradually increasing. I had such a funny sensation as I listened,
then suddenly I knew what it was - it was the animals!. All the animals were singing to the new born
baby!
Nothing was harsh or
loud, just a soft lowing, baaing, birds were singing in the middle of the
night. They never sing at night. The horses were neighing, every living
creature was praising this baby. Even I, a lowly donkey, had to sing, but never
had my braying been so soft, it was as if something else were braying for
me. I looked down, and even the mice,
living in the stable, were sitting up and singing in their little mousy voices.
As the singing went
on and on, I had the most wonderful feeling, as if I, a lowly donkey, were
experiencing the most wonderful night of the year!
As the singing
gradually died away, people began arriving, travelers that had come for the
same reason we were here, to pay taxes, residents of the city, all bringing
food and clothing for the baby, standing in awe. Then shepherds began arriving. they had seen the star and heard the angels,
and left immediately to come worship the KING, bringing lambs as their gift
offering.
I was tired, just
wanted to sleep, but so much was happening!
I didn't want to miss anything.
Then to my
astonishment three new visitors arrived - I heard them called The Wisemen. These Wisemen had been traveling, following
the star, until they finally arrived in Bethlehem. They brought gifts of gold,
myrhh, and incense. After paying homage
to the baby Jesus, they told Mary and Joseph that they had to return home, but
were going by a different route because King Herod had heard about the new KING,
and wanted them to tell him where Jesus was.
For the rest of my
life I would be "the donkey" that carried Mary, then Mary and the
baby JESUS. Many years have gone by, I
am now old, have forgotten many things, but the memory of that night in
Jerusalem, when the animals sang, praising that tiny new born baby, is as
fresh today as it was back then.
I am only an old
donkey, but the memories I have of the bright star shining on the new born
baby, the angels singing, the animals singing, the visitors arriving, the gifts
given - what a memory. How blessed I
have been, just a lowly donkey, that I was able to be a part of this wonderous
event.
I have heard it said
that on the anniversary of this baby's birth, right at the stroke of midnight,
if You are outside and keep very still, you can still hear the soft singing of
the aimals as they come awake, and for a few seconds sing their praises once
again of the newborn KING.
I hope you enjoyed this version of the CHRISTMAS STORY. Let me know what you think - I always enjoy hearing from all my friends and family.
Have a great day and God Bless.
PS - this story is copyrighted, so please don't use it without written permission.
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