Picked From The Fields-An Advent Story (week 4)

 

  After they prayed, everyone remained silent and marveled at the baby. He was beautiful. He was the Messiah. Abigail tried to imagine what incredible things he would do in his life. What would the Messiah do? Abigail wondered why she had never pondered that idea before. She knew the Messiah would come one day, but she never imagined it being in her lifetime, and she never even dreamed of meeting him. Suddenly, the silence was broken.

  “So why are you here?  Why is Jesus sleeping in a manger?” Nathan inquired.

  “We are here for the census,” Joseph answered.

  “No, I mean…are you poor like us?”

  “Nathan,” Levy said sharply.  “I’m sorry for my son’s questions.”

  Mary looked at Joseph and then smiled. “My heart is full of love. I feel very blessed. I trust the Lord will give us all we need,” Mary answered.

  “So if your heart is full of love, you’re not poor?” asked Nathan. “How do you fill your heart with love?’

  “I give my heart to God daily, and He fills it up with His love. God’s love is my treasure. It is the only treasure I desire. And now He has blessed me with Jesus, and my heart is so happy it is overflowing.”

  Nathan smiled. “My heart feels happy being here too!  I guess I’m not poor, either.”  Mary smiled sweetly at Nathan, and then a small yawn escaped her.

  “We are sorry.  You must be exhausted.  We should let you get some rest,” Abigail suggested.  As Abigail stood up, she remembered she had left her basket with their dinner outside the entrance.  “Have you any food here? I have some bread in my basket. It is not much.  Please allow us the honor to leave you this small present.  You will need substance to feed this little one.”

  Joseph smiled and agreed.  “Mary, you will need to eat. We were so worried about finding a place for Mary to deliver that we did not have a chance to acquire food. Thank you for your generosity.”

  “We could return tomorrow with another meal if you allowed us,” replied Levi.

  “That would be greatly appreciated.  I would hate to leave Mary alone so soon after giving birth,” answered Joseph.

  The shepherds then left the cave, their hearts filled with joy. They each discussed what they could bring tomorrow. As they walked, they tried to comprehend what had occurred.  The Messiah had been born, and they were the first to visit him.! They were invited to come back again! “We prayed with the Messiah!” they exclaimed. Each tried to describe how it felt to be near the baby.

  As Abigail lay down to sleep that night, she played all the details of the night that she could remember.  She didn’t want to forget a single moment. It was all too incredible. Before drifting off to sleep, Abigail allowed herself to ponder one last question.  “Lord, why did you choose us? Are we really that important to you?” Abigail wasn’t sure if she had imagined it, dreamed it, or heard the Word “Yes!”.

-Susan