This story was written for the 2017 Advent Calendar – Day 8<\/p>\n
Summary:\u00a0 Questions and a traveler interrupt the reading The Christmas Story.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (1,040 words)<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she brought forth her firstborn son<\/strong>, “<\/em><\/p>\n First Born \u201cPa, what\u2019s an inn?\u201d the little boy asked.\u00a0\u00a0His eyes glistened in the glow of candlelight, making his face look cherubic.<\/p>\n \u201cAn inn is like a hotel, Joe.\u00a0\u00a0You know, like The International House where we stay sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut why was there no room?\u00a0\u00a0There is lots of room when we stay?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The boy was still quite confused.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the rooms were full, son.\u00a0\u00a0When there is a big event in town all the hotels and boarding houses are full of visitors from out of town,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe let Pa read some more,\u201d Hoss said, pulling his brother into his lap.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, there\u2019s something else.\u00a0\u00a0Pa said laid him in a manger.\u00a0\u00a0What\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know where we feed the animals in the barn, we fill it with hay or food.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s a manger,\u201d Ben said as he watched understanding begin to grow in his 7-year-old\u2019s eyes.\u00a0\u00a0The light there seemed to get brighter as knowledge and realization took hold.\u00a0\u00a0The father waited patiently for the next question.<\/p>\n \u201cSwadd . . .swadd . ..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSwaddling clothes.\u00a0\u00a0You wrap a baby tightly in a blanket, son. It keeps his arms and legs quiet, so he can rest.\u00a0 It also keeps him very warm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa is that why you tuck me in so tight sometime?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, boy.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s to keep your busy body in bed so we can sleep,\u201d Hoss added.\u00a0 “Now let . . .”<\/p>\n \u201cFunny.\u00a0\u00a0They put the mom and her baby in a barn and she tied him up with a blanket, placed him in a feed bin because there was not a single room, in a single house, International House, boarding house or nothing,\u201d Joe stated as he weaved the truth together in his own way.\u00a0\u00a0Shaking his head and waving his hands, he displayed disbelief.\u00a0 “It would have been warm in the kitchen?\u00a0 Didn’t someone have a kitchen?”<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Son,\u201d Ben answered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, Pa?\u00a0\u00a0Why did God let his Son come here like that?\u00a0\u00a0Couldn\u2019t he have made a better place for the baby?\u00a0\u00a0God made the world, the stars, the sky.\u00a0\u00a0He could have made a big house for Jesus to be born in.\u00a0 Even bigger than the International House.\u00a0\u00a0The people were not nice to them,\u201d Joe said sadly.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPa, we wouldn\u2019t make her stay in the barn, would we?\u00a0\u00a0I would go sleep in Hoss\u2019 bed or sleep with you and they could have my room and stay as long as they want.\u00a0\u00a0I could play with the Baby Jesus and we could be like brothers forever and ever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, that was the plan.\u00a0\u00a0To bring Him here in a humble manner so that Jesus could live and walk with men.\u00a0\u00a0And you know, Son, you are His and He will walk with you all your life, if that\u2019s what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben watched the glowing light from his son\u2019s eyes and appreciated this moment in time.\u00a0\u00a0Tears formed in his own eyes as Joe and Hoss chattered about walking with Jesus and how the Savior was born.\u00a0\u00a0He missed the young man who usually helped him corral the two of them.\u00a0 On this night, he missed his firstborn.\u00a0 Clearing his throat, Ben continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ben read.\u00a0\u00a0The boys quieted down and listened to their father, who struggled to keep the tears from being heard.\u00a0\u201cAnd, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/b>And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/b>For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0Pa, God sent his angels to tell everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, He did.\u00a0\u00a0He wanted to announce his Son\u2019s arrival.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Joe.\u00a0\u00a0You announced your own arrival with all that wailing you did the first day you were here,\u201d Hoss said laughing.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou could cry like a new born calf.\u00a0\u00a0Woke up the whole territory.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben ignored his sons\u2019 antics and continued reading.\u00a0\u00a0He was trying to get through the scripture, so they could have Christmas Eve dinner before the guests arrived.\u00a0\u00a0When he began reading again, both boys stared at their father as his voice commanded their attention.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0<\/em>this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/b>And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0Flipping the Bible shut, he watched his boys bow their heads as he\u00a0sent a prayer to the heavens, thanking God for giving him all three sons and for the bounty in their lives.\u00a0\u00a0He prayed for those less fortunate than they and asked for peace in the world in which they lived.<\/p>\n A knock interrupted his prayer.\u00a0\u00a0Someone was an hour early.\u00a0\u00a0The annual Christmas party did not begin until four.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNow who could be that early?\u201d he asked aloud.\u00a0\u00a0Pushing back from the table, Ben watched as the front door swung open and a man dressed in black entered the great room.<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d Adam shouted as he dropped his bags near the\u00a0clock standing at attention near the door.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI made it home!\u201d He waited for the reunion he knew would come and was not surprised when he was wrapped in the warmth and love of his family.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u00a0Adam!\u201d the two younger boys screamed as chairs scrubbed against the wood floor. They ran to their brother, smothering him with hugs and chatter.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she brought forth her first-born son,\u201d Ben whispered as tears rolled unchecked down his face.\u00a0\u00a0Thank you, Father, for her First Born and bringing mine home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>\u00a0 ~~ by Justafan<\/strong><\/p>\n