Christmas Stories: 'Christmas Gifts,' Part II
Here is the conclusion of "Christmas Gifts":"Since Baby Jesus was so special, someone was needed to keep watch over him and his family. A brave dog lived in the stable. And though he was an ordinary dog, he was a very special watchdog."
"Just like me!" said the dog.
"Yes, just like you," said the cow. "All night, this brave dog stood watch at the door to the stable. No harm would come to Baby Jesus as long as he was around. The dog was glad to offer this precious and unique gift, and protect the baby from danger.
"All the animals in the stable gathered around Baby Jesus. Covered with a special blanket, lulled to sleep by the cooing of the dove, and protected by the dog, the baby still needed someplace special to sleep.
"His mother could not hold him in her arms all night. So Mary needed a comfortable bed for her child. The ordinary cow came forward and offered the manger, her most precious and unique gift, so the baby would have a safe and soft place to rest his sweet head."
"An ordinary cow, just like you and me, Mom?" asked the young calf.
"Yes, just like you and me, dear," said the cow. "Mary and Joseph lined the manger with hay and tucked the baby under the soft woolen blanket.
"That night, another special thing happened," continued the cow. "A bright star began to shine in the sky."
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"Where did the star come from?" asked the young calf.
"The star was a gift from God to announce to the world that a special baby had been born. It was the largest star in the sky. It shone over the earth to lead travelers from far and near to the Baby Jesus. In fact, the star was so bright, the stable glowed as the dog stood watch, with the cow and the donkey nearby.
"So you see," said the cow, "it was on a special night, in a simple stable like this one, that ordinary animals became special animals because of the unique and most precious gifts each of them offered to Baby Jesus."
"It was a donkey, like me, who carried the baby's mother safely on his back," said the donkey.
"And a sheep, like me, gave her a special woolen blanket," said the young sheep.
"Only a dove, like me, could have lulled the baby to sleep," cooed the gentle dove.
"And it took a brave dog to keep watch over them all," said the dog, "just like me. Ruff! Ruff!"
"Yes, everyone has a unique and most special gift to give at Christmas," said the cow. "That's why animals like us are given this special gift of speech each Christmas Eve at midnight. So we might tell our children about those very first Christmas gifts given by ordinary animals."
The animals gathered at the door to the stable. Suddenly they saw a bright star in the sky.
"Look! It's the same star!" said the young donkey.
"Yes," said the cow. "It is a special star that will always remind us of that special night when the most special baby was born."
