Gabriel the Lamb and the First Christmas
By Bill Conley – America’s Favorite
Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
The story of Christmas reminds us
that love is the greatest gift of all. It teaches that giving is more powerful
than receiving and that true joy is found not in what we have, but in who we
love. Christmas began with the birth of Jesus Christ, a gift from God that
changed the world forever. His birth brought hope, peace, and forgiveness to
every heart willing to believe. The beauty of Christmas is not in lights or
presents, but in kindness, compassion, and gratitude for God’s greatest gift.
Families grow stronger when they gather in love, share joy, and help those in
need. Every act of love we give reflects the spirit of that holy night in
Bethlehem. Gabriel the Lamb learns that Christmas is not just a story of long
ago, but a light that still shines in the hearts of all who believe.
The cold winds of winter swept
gently across the hills outside Bethlehem. Snowflakes twirled through the sky,
and the stars shone like diamonds on a velvet blanket. In the quiet valley
below, a small flock of sheep huddled close together, their wool thick and
white as clouds.
Among them was Gabriel the Lamb,
the youngest and most curious of them all. His soft wool shimmered under the
moonlight, and his big brown eyes sparkled with wonder.
“Grandfather,” Gabriel said,
snuggling closer to the oldest sheep in the flock, Elias, “why are the
stars so bright tonight?”
Elias smiled kindly. “Ah, little
one, this is a special night. I can feel it in my bones and in the wind.
Something wonderful is happening in Bethlehem tonight.”
Gabriel tilted his head. “Something
wonderful? Like what?”
Before Elias could answer, the
shepherds nearby stirred. The sheep lifted their heads, ears twitching.
Suddenly, the sky above them burst into radiant light.
A voice, strong and beautiful,
filled the air. “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to
you; He is Christ the Lord!”
Gabriel’s eyes widened in awe as a
glorious angel appeared, shining brighter than the moon. The whole sky was
filled with heavenly beings singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
The shepherds fell to their knees,
trembling with joy and wonder. “We must go to Bethlehem!” one cried. “Let us
see this baby the Lord has told us about!”
As the shepherds hurried away,
Gabriel’s heart beat fast. “Grandfather, can we go too?”
Elias chuckled softly. “We follow
the shepherds, little one. Where they go, we go. Tonight, we walk into
history.”
The flock followed the shepherds
through the fields toward the town. The star above them grew brighter and
brighter, lighting their path like a lantern in the sky.
After a long walk, they came to a
small stable behind an inn. It was simple and humble, filled with the soft
scent of hay. Inside, a young woman wrapped her newborn baby in cloth and laid
Him gently in a manger.
Gabriel stood frozen at the doorway.
The air felt different—warm and peaceful, even though the night was cold. The
animals inside, a donkey and an ox, bowed their heads quietly. The baby
stirred, His tiny hands reaching upward as if to bless the world.
Elias whispered, “Behold, Gabriel.
This child is Jesus, the Son of God. The Savior of the world has been born.”
Gabriel’s eyes filled with tears he
didn’t understand. He stepped closer, the hay crunching softly beneath his
hooves. He wanted to bring something, anything, to honor the child.
But he had nothing. No gift, no
treasure. Only his small, gentle heart.
As he stood there, the baby opened
His eyes and looked directly at him. For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Gabriel felt warmth fill his chest, a love deeper than anything he had ever
known.
He bowed his head and whispered,
“Welcome, little King.”
Mary, the baby’s mother, smiled and
stroked Gabriel’s soft head. “Peace be with you, little lamb.”
The shepherds knelt in silence. Some
wept with joy. One said softly, “This is the night the world will never
forget.”
As dawn began to break, Gabriel
followed the others out of the stable. The light of the rising sun seemed to
sing with the angels. Everything felt new, as if the world itself had been born
again.
Years later, long after that night
in Bethlehem, Gabriel had grown into a strong ram. But he never forgot the baby
in the manger. Every winter, when the stars shone bright and the air grew cold,
he gathered the young lambs around and told them the story.
“On a night long ago,” he would
begin, “love came into the world in the form of a tiny child. His name was
Jesus. He was born not in a palace or a castle, but in a simple stable filled
with animals like us. He came to teach love, kindness, and forgiveness.”
The lambs would listen with wide
eyes, their tails flicking in excitement. “And that,” Gabriel would say, “is
why the world celebrates Christmas. It’s not about presents or decorations.
It’s about the gift of love that God gave to all of us through His Son.”
One day, as Christmas approached
again, Gabriel noticed that the people in the nearby village were busy
preparing for the holiday. They hung garlands of evergreen, baked sweet bread,
and sang songs of joy. Families gathered, laughing and sharing food. Children
made gifts for one another with their small hands.
Gabriel watched them from a distance
and smiled. “Even after all these years,” he said to himself, “the light of
that night still shines.”
But as he wandered through the
fields, he saw a small bird shivering in the cold, her wing bent from a fall.
Gabriel hurried to her side.
“Little one, are you hurt?”
The bird nodded weakly. “I was
flying toward the star, but the wind knocked me down.”
Gabriel gently lifted her with his
nose and carried her to his warm barn. “You’ll stay here until you are strong
again,” he said softly. He gave her seeds and water and covered her with straw
to keep her warm.
As he watched her rest, Gabriel
whispered, “This is what Christmas truly means—to give from your heart, to care
for those who need love.”
That night, as snow fell quietly
outside, the little bird opened her eyes and chirped softly. “Gabriel, thank
you for saving me.”
Gabriel smiled. “It wasn’t me. It
was the spirit of Christmas working through me. When love fills your heart, it
always finds its way to someone who needs it.”
The next morning, the bird was
strong enough to fly again. Before she left, she said, “I will sing the story
of Christmas wherever I go, so no one forgets the night love came to earth.”
And she did. Her song carried across
valleys and mountains, reminding every creature that Christmas began with a
single act of love, a baby born in a manger, a mother’s faith, a father’s
protection, and a world forever changed.
Moral
of the Story Poem:
In a humble stable, love was born,
To heal the world, to end its scorn.
A baby’s cry, so pure, so mild,
Brought peace and hope to every child.
Christmas shines with heaven’s light,
A gift of love through winter’s night.
So give with joy, and live with grace,
For God’s own Son has blessed this place.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
What did Gabriel the Lamb learn
about the true meaning of Christmas?
2.
Why was Jesus’ birth such an
important moment in history?
3.
How can we keep the spirit of
Christmas alive in our hearts all year long?
No comments:
Post a Comment