And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising Go and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13-14

Merry Christmas! It is almost here! This week I have a Christmas story for you to read or your parents can read it to you. It is a Christmas story written from the point of view of the young boy who cared for the animals at his father’s inn. Some Hebrew words in the story are: Abba – father, Ima – mother, and Yahweh – God.

The Stable Boy’s First Christmas

Amal rushes between the inn and the stable! People are coming to Bethlehem from everywhere in Israel. They have to come back to their hometowns to be counted by order of the Roman Emperor. Amal’s family owns a large inn where travelers stay. Amal loves his job caring for all of the animals. They keep the travelers’ donkeys and camels as well as their own sheep and goats.

“Amal! Amal, come quickly.”

“Yes, Abba. I’m coming!” shouts Amal running from the stable to the front of the inn.

“Amal, take these two donkeys out to the stable for our new guests,” Abba says, turning back to his guests. “My son will care for your animals, and I will show you to your room. Our last one by the way.”

Amal leads the two donkeys into the stable. “Here’s some hay and water,” Amal whispers, as he pats their necks. He looks around the large cave that is their stable, it is full. Good thing those are the last guests, Amal sighs. He checks on each of the animals and closes the gate. Back at the inn, Abba gives blankets to their guests. Ima prepares meat and bread. The bread smells wonderful. Amal is hungry.

“Shalom,” Joseph calls into the inn. Abba, with Amal behind, hurries out, “I’m sorry, sir, but we are full. We just rented our last room. You will have to find somewhere else. Perhaps the inn out on the edge of town?” 

“Please, kind sir, my wife, Mary, is having a baby, she cannot travel any farther.” Abba and Amal look up to the young woman on the donkey. She seems to already be in pain, her baby is coming! Abba sighs, “Come, come. All our rooms are full. I’m sorry, all I can offer is the stable. At least you will be inside, and the animals will help to keep it warm.” “Amal, lay a bed with straw and blankets for the young woman.” Joseph smiles, “Thank you, thank you, sir.”

Amal runs ahead and lays straw in the back corner of the stable where it will be warmest. He covers it with a blanket and leaves an extra one on top. Joseph gently lifts Mary from the donkey’s back and carries her to the straw bed. Amal gives their donkey hay and water, then runs back into the house to Ima. He returns with warm bread and fresh water for their last-minute guests. “Thank you,” grins Joseph, but Mary just smiles and shakes her head. Amal also leaves a small oil lamp and a jug of oil so they can have light when it gets dark.

Back inside the inn, Ima gives him food. “Eat, my son.” Amal finally lays down to sleep in the courtyard, so he can be close to the stable. Amal pulls his cloak close and rolls over to sleep.

Amal wakes in the night, what’s that? It sounds like voices coming from the stable. Voices singing?

Amal creeps to the stable opening, he sees Joseph and Mary. Their new baby, wrapped in cloth, is laid in one of the animal mangers on some hay and the extra blanket he left. But shepherds, who have crowded into the small cave, are the ones singing. They are kneeling by the baby and praising Yahweh.

Amal watches as the shepherds rise to leave. They talk excitedly among themselves. Amal hears a word here and there, “angels, Messiah, Savior, babe in a manger.” Could this really be true? Wouldn’t the Messiah be born in a palace? Amal thinks about all these things as he watches Joseph lay the baby gently in Mary’s arms, and rests beside her. They all three sleep.

Amal looks up to the starry sky as he leaves the stable. One star seems to be much brighter and larger than all the others and it stands right over the stable. Wow, maybe this really is the Messiah. Amal smiles, he can’t wait to tell Abba and Ima in the morning. Thank You, Yahweh!

What do you think it would have been like to be Amal? Would you have believed? Who did Amal thank for Jesus? Enjoy celebrating Jesus’ birth with your family this Christmas.

Blessings and joy this Christmas season!