“Boy, things are sure hopping out there tonight! Did you ever see so many people? Who would’ve ever thought the whole town of Bethlehem would be completely packed out?”

“Yeah. I heard that all the inns were full and even all the homes are full. There is not a spare bed anywhere!”

“Oh, that’s so sad. As my master was bringing me in here, I saw a young couple just getting into town. They looked so tired. He was leading the donkey she was riding. She looked like she could be having a baby any day. I hope they find a nice place to stay. Surely, someone will give up their room when they see her.”

“Well, I’m sure glad we have a warm place to stay. And, look, the manger is loaded with hay!”

“Oh, always thinking about your stomach, Trot.”

Just as the horse was talking, the stable door opened. A young man was bringing in his donkey. On the donkey’s back was a very tired looking young lady.

“At least it’s quiet in here.” The man said.

“And warm. Oh, I was getting so cold! Just think – nine months pregnant and feeling cold!” She chuckled a very tired chuckle. “This place will be just fine. Just let me off this donkey. I don’t know if I remember how to walk!!!”

“Be careful, Mary.” he said as he gently helped her down from the donkey and helped her steady herself on the ground.

“I think I need to walk around a little bit. We probably have the biggest room in town!” She laughed again as she stretched and walked slowly gazing into each stall where the animals were standing.

“Oh, Joseph,” she said timidly, “I think it’s almost time.”

“Come, let me help you to a soft pile of hay.” He led her to a corner of the stable. The animals looked on in awe. They had never seen a human baby being born. What an awesome miracle. Soon they heard the cry of the newborn baby – a boy. Somehow the animals knew this was no ordinary baby boy. The man she called Joseph, cleaned the baby up and handed him back to Mary. She handled him so carefully and lovingly as she wrapped him in some soft cloths. As she was starting to tire, Joseph looked around for a place to lay the baby down. The horse trotted up to him and nudged him toward the manger with their hay in it. Joseph saw the perfect bed – well, maybe not so perfect, but perfect solution to his dilemma. He laid the baby in the manger. What a place for a baby, but what could be done under the circumstances? The baby seemed to be completely unaware that anything was unusual about where he lay. He was sound asleep.

Meanwhile, outside of town, there were some sheep curled up like so many furry, wooly balls asleep. They knew they were safe and had nothing to worry about. Their shepherds were nearby some watching, some also sleeping.

Suddenly, a bright light shone in the sky! “What is it? ” they wondered.

Some of the baby sheep began to cry, “Baaaaaa, baaaaaaa!”

Then what seemed to be a human form appeared in the bright light! The shepherds were shielding their eyes from the light. They were very afraid! They had never seen anything like that in all their lives!

Then the human form talked! “Don’t be afraid! I came to bring you good news! A baby has been born tonight in Bethlehem. A very special baby. This baby is the Savior, Christ the Lord – the one you have been waiting for! It won’t be hard to find this baby. This baby not only is in a stable, but they have laid him in a manger.”

Suddenly the whole sky was filled with these human-like angelic beings! Together they were glorifying God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

The next minute, everything was dark again! The shepherds and the sheep blinked their eyes trying to adjust to the darkness again. The shepherds started talking among themselves. “Let’s go see if we can find this baby!”

When they got to town, all the stables seemed to be dark. All, except one. There not only was light in it, there also seemed to be a special glow around it! The shepherds knocked on the door quietly then opened the door. There, in the middle of the stable, was the baby the angels told them about. It had to be the one – this baby was lying right in the manger with all the hay for the animals as his bedding.

The animals were all looking on and humming softly in their own special way. It was so peaceful in the stable.

The shepherds walked in slowly and knelt down in quiet reverence. They knew this was the baby that would end all sacrifices. This baby would end the need to kill so many sheep for annual sacrifices. This was the Lamb of God!

When they left, they told everyone they saw about the extraordinary baby born in a stable and lying in a…manger.