Because of how I was raised and the fact that I married a farmer and continued life’s journey as a tender of animals, I’ve always felt a kinship with the Christmas story. It astounds me that God in His great wisdom, chose His only Son to enter the world not only as a baby, but also chose for His birth to unfold in a humble manger, surrounded by farm animals.
If I were there, I think I would have been a shepherd. Not that I know sheep, but a shepherd would be the closest thing to a farmer. How would I see it, I wonder? I imagine they were hanging around tending sheep, like any other night. Nothing extraordinary until …
Feeling drowsy, my friends and I were settling in for the night when I noticed an unfamiliar charge in the air, jolting me wide awake. Drawn up to the sky, I saw this amazing light. I’d never seen anything like it in all my life. Terrified, I turned to my fellow herdsmen, who were staring upward, mouths agape and eyes wide in fear. My throat was tight and my voice shaking as I stammered, “Look, look at that, that light! Wait, I think — I think it’s an angel! Listen! It’s saying something!”
“Do not be afraid! I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, we were all thrown to the ground by the sheer sight and force of a brilliant multitude of angels, a roar louder than I had never heard before and have never heard since. The sky was filled with angels! They were praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
We all laid there, looking like fools. We were locked in, couldn’t move, our bodies felt leaden. Our sheep even stood rock still and didn’t make a sound. They were not frightened, not one little bit, which was unheard of. Any sudden movements or changes usually threw them off kilter.
Just as quickly as the angels had come, they left and the sky was black, lit with the twinkling of millions of tiny stars. I blinked to adjust my eyes to the darkness. Looking up into the night sky, I reasoned somehow, the stars looked brighter, like they had absorbed the brilliance illuminating the sky minutes ago. There was one very large one there, seemingly left behind, beckoning me.
“Come on, fellas!” I hollered when I found my voice and could summon my strength. “Let’s hurry up and go find this Baby in the manger!” We left our herd with the younger boys, giving them stern instruction to await our return.
Approaching the town of Bethlehem, we were drawn to a stable. It was as if that star had an invisible force, pulling us along. We just knew in our hearts that what we were about to witness would change us. Forever.
Peeking inside the stable, all the blood drained from my face. I felt weak and my legs would not hold me. I dropped to the ground and knelt there beside the Baby’s crib, His simplicity and naivety and magnificence and majesty overwhelming me. This is Him. This is the One the angels told us about. We were waiting for this One! And He came as a Baby?
Intuitively, grief for my sinfulness consumed me and as I knelt there, tears ran down my face. Gazing at Him, I felt washed completely clean, I could not describe it. Tearing my eyes away from Him, I noticed my fellow herdsmen were spellbound as well, their faces reflecting my heart, tears filling their eyes. I worked with these guys, ate with them, lived with them and knew they were as hard as stone in order to survive our lifestyle. Here they were as meek as the lambs we tend, kneeling before their Savior in a manger.
Looking across at Mary, I saw her face was pensive, as if she were pondering in her heart the events taking place and perhaps, even wondering about the future of this Child she had born.
We couldn’t keep this good news to ourselves. Running quickly back to our herd, we told everyone along the way what had taken place. What the angel had told us was true! On this holiest of holy nights, the Savior of the world was born, a little Babe, lying in a humble manger, with cows and sheep and donkeys watching.
Later that night as I lay, trying to sleep, I couldn’t help but smile at all God had done. To keep His promise of sending a Savior by sending Him in such a manner! And to think me and my fellow scruffy shepherds were one of the first to witness Him, made me weep anew. Thank You, Father! Thank You for sending a Shepherd to tend to us, Your flock!
Turning over, I pulled my rough blanket around me and fell into a deep sleep. With a smile on my face.
(“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11)
Categories
