Lamb’s First Christmas

The little lamb was born this year to a world it found so fresh and new. From sun and grass to cows and deer, to rain and snow and morning dew.

The lamb learned all about these things, and many more besides, such as buzzing bees and birds that sing, woolly coats, and leathery hides.

The little lamb thought it knew it all; what else could there be to learn? But Winter came and followed Fall, and with it a brand new term.

For now, the farmer spoke a word the lamb had not heard before, “Christmas” was what the lamb now heard; it wanted to understand more.

“What does it mean, this word so new?” The lamb now asked, its face in a frown. “What Christmas is, I haven’t a clue, I know: I’ll find the answer in town!”

So the lamb took off and followed the road, its eyes alert and fully aware, looking, listening, onward it strode, till finally it reached the town square.

There before it stood a massive pine tree, all covered with lights from bottom to top. “Is this now Christmas before me I see? Has my quest finally come to a stop?”

As the Lamb gazed, transfixed by what he did see, came a man yelling, “Scram! Get away from the tree, you filthy old lamb!”

Surprised and not a little frightened, the lamb hurried away, but then its face brightened, when it heard music play.

For the lamb heard a Christmas tune, coming from a nearby store. So the lamb moved closer until it was soon, at the window, wanting to see more.

Inside were people rushing around, pushing and shoving and grabbing their gifts. Nobody smiled, instead they all frowned, and some even got into tiffs!

The lamb said to itself, “This can’t be it! How can Christmas be so full of strife? There just has to be more, just a little bit, of some joy it could bring into life.”

So the lamb walked on until it found a house. Out front stood elves, surrounding Ol’ Claus. Beside him stood the Mrs., his spouse, all of which gave our lamb some pause.

Then from the house came an angry kid, shouting, “Don’t do our display any harm!” He threw some snow even as he slid, saying, “Go away! Go back to your farm!”

“Is this what Christmas is all about?” asked the lamb to the setting sun. “Idols which people serve so devout? I fear my searching is done.”

The lamb walked, sadly, on down the street, continuing its hopeless search, when a group of people it happened to meet, gathered outside a church.

There were men there, dressed in robes like kings, and shepherds, to which the lamb was no stranger. And a man and a woman and an angel with wings, all bowing down before a manger.

When the lamb saw the straw, its hunger grew strong, And it thought, “I think I’ll grab a bite, just maybe!” But when it grew near, on joining the throng, it saw the manger had in it a baby!

The scene was so peaceful, the people so calm, the lamb settled down beside them. Its previous heartaches had found their balm, a new feeling did now overwhelm.

The lamb knew it had settled where it belonged, a place where Christmas reigned, it found the answer for which it longed: the true meaning it had obtained.

This Christmas was our little lamb’s first, but it would not be its last; each year to come it would be immersed, in the Nativity’s living cast.

For Christmas is about a little Lamb, but not the one that went looking.  The lamb of God, the great I AM, came to save us, our sins overlooking.

So, join with me to celebrate, this soon and coming season. Put aside all greed and hate, for Jesus is the reason!

Merry Christmas!

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: John 1:29, 36; Galatians 5:16-26