We have had our share of guests in the neighborhood barns. From wandering waifs looking for a warm shelter to hardened criminals seeking to hide from their captors, we’ve seen a few of your folk stumble in. But these visits, while occasionally disturbing our animalistic patterns for a day or two, were not extraordinary.
Nothing will ever compare to that one night…
Even while grazing in the field, I sensed something electric in the air unrelated to the town’s population explosion and the resulting chaos. The road to Bethlehem buzzed with activity and chatter as prodigals who had left for loftier pursuits arrived home for the census. No one dared disobey Caesar’s decree, and the line of travelers resembled a flock of my kind being led home from the pasture at shearing time. Their countenances matched ours, too, as if they reluctantly headed toward something that would strip them of their identity and reduce them to a number on Caesar’s books, digits that reflected monetary value. Welcome to our world—the shepherds don’t usually bother giving us names, either.
Before nightfall, those shepherds led us farther inland, away from the traffic. But before either of our caretakers dozed off for their sleep shift, the quiet of this new location experienced its own disruption—a supernatural one!
The sky lit up as if a flash of lightning froze in place. Humans and sheep all turned our faces upward to see what caused the brightness. I stopped chewing, and I don’t often do that. A heavenly being had slipped into our realm with the glory of the Lord as his backdrop.
Sounds of terror filled the air where the shepherds sat. I saw them scramble to their feet and prepare for flight. My favourite glanced at me when I voiced my opinion of his abandonment, adding my fear to his own.
“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said. The soothing timbre of his voice emphasized his instruction and calmed my racing heart. Each head in the field swiveled to hear him continue.
“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign:
You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:10-12 NLT)
Before any of the humans recovered their speech, the sky grew even brighter. My shrill, bleating sounds of distress were drowned out in a symphony of voices praising God as a multitude of angels joined the first. They sang, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Even with all the noise and brilliance of this scene before us, I felt it. Peace.
When the light dimmed and the echoes of their voices faded, that feeling inside me remained. We had just witnessed something life-changing.
The shepherds processed all that had occurred in a flurry of words and actions.
“We must go!” one cried. “You heard the guy! Come on!”
“What about them?” my friend and guardian asked, holding his palm toward me.
“We’ll take them with us!” was the answer.
Suddenly, our backs were to the field, and our faces toward the town, as we made our way to Bethlehem. We were on a mission to find the Messiah! Our flock was louder than usual as we absorbed the excited chatter of the shepherds. Would we locate this special “baby in a manger?”
Thankfully, we did not have to venture far into the town before we came upon a stable that had clearly gone through its unnatural events. The animals were not eating from the manger; instead, a man and woman sat next to it, guarding its contents. The strips of cloth hanging over its edge confirmed that we had found what we were looking for; An infant’s cry served as verification. The world’s Saviour lay in front of us, both humanly vulnerable and holy. I bowed my head.
My woolly companions fell silent while the shepherds fell to their knees as they approached the couple and the child. And I felt it again. Peace.
When the shepherds had respectfully adored the child and shared their tale of angelic hosts with His parents, they ran through town telling everyone they met about the child on our return. Oh, what a glorious night!
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While I may have taken some liberties with the retelling (with verse 20 saying, “they went back to their flocks”), I enjoyed imagining the scene unfolding through the eyes of a sheep. I apologize if you think that was a baaaaad idea!
As Christmas approaches, I invite you to turn to the Star of this story. The child we celebrate in this season grew to be a man and gave his life so that we might experience God’s forgiveness and peace. A baby in a manger was God’s love wrapped in strips of cloth. This gift was more precious than anything you’ll ever find under a tree.
Keep Christ in Christmas by embracing His peace in your heart. The Good Shepherd does know you by name and loves you more than you can imagine.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (KJV).
Pray With Me:
Father, thank You for sending Your Son as a gift to the world. I accept Your generous present and invite Jesus to come in and change my heart. Let me see others the way You do and reflect Your love in all my interactions. Help me to grow to be more like my Saviour. Amen.
Valda Goudie is a teacher and author of the Tickle Me with a Crowbar! series. Visit her site at valsstage.com and download Book 1 for free.
Melissa Lapensee
I loved it Val, as I do all your blogs. I could feel the peace moving in as I read. Thank you for sharing your wonderful gifts with us. May you abundantly blessed this Christmas.