A Shepherd's Tale

     One of my favorite writers, my daughter-in-law, Lisa Brumley,  sent me this lovely account of the shepherd's experience the night Jesus was born.


It was a silent night.  A cold, lonely, clear silent night.  Two young shepherds kept watch over their flock far out of town.  This was their favorite time of night, when the sheep settled in  groups just outside the ring of light cast by their small fire, and the shepherds could rest.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  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.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Then the dark midnight sky erupted in a blaze of light and song, as a great company of the heavenly host filled the sky, praising God and singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Heaven could not contain the angel's celebration...all the love and joy in heaven spilled out in sweet hymns of hope.

Lying in a manger?  The shepherds looked at each other, then turned their gaze across the field.  On a low hill, they could just barely see the small abandoned shack they occasionally used for shelter.  As the bright lights faded, one star remained.  The largest, brightest star they had ever seen shone over the humble hut.  The shepherds did not understand, but they believed.

Across the field, Joseph held open the door for Mary so she could see the sky.  She knew the angels sang for her son; she treasured this up in her heart as she held her baby close for warmth.  Joseph saw the shepherds approaching, and smiled protectively as he welcomed them in.

This was no place for a mother and child, and yet the room was joyful and at peace.  The shepherds crept close to see the child and were moved by the quiet, deep, soulful gaze of the baby.  The shepherds were in awe.  Hope had been born.  Love's pure light.

As they walked back to their flock, they saw that the star remained like a peephole into heaven.  In the days that followed, the shepherds watched over the young family from a distance until they were strong enough to travel.

They told everyone of what they had seen that night; all were amazed, but no one else had seen the heavenly outburst.  The boys wondered at their fortune to witness such a special moment.  They didn't realize that God honored the simple shepherd's heart, that innate drive to nurture and care for their flocks.  The shepherds  would be old men before they understood the miracle they saw that night, and that the King of kings was also The Good Shepherd.

They tended their flocks together for many years, and late at night, they would lay wide-eyed, gazing at the sky, humming the angels' song, and dreaming of when they could get a glimpse into heaven again....