By Dalen Keys
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:16 NIV
As Eli stepped into the barn, he quickly pinched his nose. Now, he knew why his Dad had asked him to clean up the barn. It was stinky.
The cow mooed as Eli gently pushed it out of the way while he cleaned out the old straw.
Eli paused just to rub the donkey’s soft nose as he finished putting fresh hay in his manger.
The rooster cried out cock-a-doodle-do as Eli swept out the chicken roost and scattered fresh feed.
As Eli stepped out of the barn, he saw his father bringing a man and women around the corner of the inn toward the barn. Eli noticed the woman was going to have a baby soon and felt sad that they had to stay in the barn. At least the barn had been cleaned and there was fresh hay for them to sleep on.
Eli smiled. “I’m finished, Dad.”
“Thanks for getting the barn ready, Eli,” said Dad. The woman smiled kindly at him.
Eli was exhausted from the busy day and gladly crawled into bed soon after dinner. As he slid under his blankets, he wondered about the man and woman staying in the barn. “Dear God, please watch over those people tonight.”
During the night he was awakened by the bright starlight streaming in his window, filling his room with a warm glow. Eli hurried to the window and saw men and boys in the backyard. Some held long staffs and some were pointing at the bright star overhead. Eli heard one say, “This is indeed a night from God.” He heard another say something about “a king.” No way!
Eli ran downstairs and around the barn to his secret entrance. He easily slipped through the loose boards.
The barn was dimly lit but he saw the lady covered with a blanket and laying in the hay gently rubbing the donkey’s nose.
Some of the men were staring at a little bundle held by the man. A few were kneeling and giving thanks to God.
The man knelt and carefully snuggled the bundle into the hay in the manger.
The man noticed Eli and motioned for him to come closer.
“What’s your name, young man?” asked the man.
“I’m Eli. I live here – in the Inn.”
“It is very nice to meet you, Eli. I am Joseph and this is my wife, Mary. This is our baby. We are going to name him Jesus.”
Eli looked at the little baby laying there in the hay. Eli thought the baby smiled at him.
“Sir,” said Eli looking up at Joseph, “is that star in the sky for Jesus?”
“I think so, Eli,” said Joseph kindly. “Mary and I don’t understand everything that is happening, but it’s clear that this is God’s special night.”
Eli nodded.
“Mr. Joseph, can I get some fresh hay for Jesus? I know it is not much, but I will be glad to get it for him.”
“Eli, I am sure that Jesus would be very happy to have some fresh hay.”
Eli burst from the barn, excited to be helping Jesus. He was glad to be serving God by bringing his little gift for Jesus on this special night.
by Dalen Keys
Dalen obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from Rice University and works as a research manager with DuPont in Wilmington, DE solely for the purpose of funding his writing career – and maybe to buy groceries and pay tuitions.
He published his first children’s picture book titled Just a Quilt? in 2009. He has been published in the Avon Grove Sun, Rev Magazine, The Secret Place, Youth Worker Journal, Devozine and Creativity Portal. Dalen and his wife, Mitzie, live in Landenberg, PA and have three children and one grandchild. Dalen is active in his church as a teacher. Learn more about Dalen, Just a Quilt? and his writingon www.dalenkeys.com.