Journey's End or a New Beginning?

The trip had been long and arduous. The road was rough and the weather unusually hot for the season. The couple had almost no food with them and very little water. It had to be rationed carefully. All they wanted was to get to the end of their journey, perform their required task and return home before their baby was born.

The pregnant girl pressed her hands against her back. She had passed discomfort some 20 miles back. Now the pain was nearly unbearable. However, she was determined not to let her husband see her grimace. Instead she walked slowly forward and placed her hands on his neck, giving him a slight massage.

"That feels good," he mumbled. Pulling out an apple, he tossed it to the longhaired brunette with the sparkling eyes. He marveled how she managed to look so beautiful despite the hardship of the trip. He could not help but stare at her in wonder.

"What? Do I have a pimple on my face or something?" She laughed, the sound filling the night air with joy.

"You looking amazing," he whispered. "You've never looked more beautiful!"

The girl blushed. She wasn't use to such compliments. After all, they hadn't been married all that long. It was an arranged marriage; something that was common in their country. Still, she knew her parents had done well by her.

She stared back at her husband. He was handsome by anyone's standards. However, it wasn't his looks that drew her to him. It was his heart, his compassion, his loyalty and his faith. She knew of no finer man anywhere.

"You better get some sleep," he cautioned, pulling a blanket up around her. Since she couldn't sleep lying down, he'd concocted a way for her to lean against a rock by padding it with leaves and blankets.

As she drifted into slumber, the woman smiled peacefully. They were going to have a wonderful life. She was sure of it. Everything would work out as it should.

In the morning, the pair continued their journey. The hills became more treacherous and the roads were crowded. Many people were traveling in the same direction.

Days passed and with each one, the ache in the woman's back got stronger. She wondered if the baby was considering an early appearance. She hoped not because she desperately longed to be surrounded by family and friends when her time came. Yet, on the final day it became obvious the baby wasn't going to wait. Still the mother-to-be said nothing. It wasn't until the couple entered the city that a sharp pain caused her to let out a small cry and alert her husband.

"Are you all right?" He cried as he jumped to her side. "Is it the baby?"

She nodded as yet another pain shot through her body. "We need to find a room," she proclaimed. "It will be soon."

However, everywhere they turned the couple was turned away. "We have no more rooms," said one desk clerk after another. It wasn't until the final location that someone took pity on them.

"Your wife is about to give birth, isn't she?" The man looked genuinely concerned.

"Yes, and we've tried everyplace. No one has space for us," answered father-to-be.

"Look, I have a small barn in the back. It holds my cattle and horses, but it's clean and warm. You are welcome to stay there.".

No sooner had they settled in the space, than a strange thing occurred. The animals surrounded the woman as if to offer her their bodily warmth. The cows mooed in a calming manner while the horses threw more hay on to her bed. Then all of them knelt down reverently in silence.

The birth took only a short time. As the baby cried his first breath, a flash of bright light sprung into view. When Joseph looked to see from where it came, he saw that an unusual star had fixed itself just above the building.

Joyful singing could be heard in the distance. It grew in intensity over the next few minutes as Heavenly hosts proclaimed the birth of the Christ child.

A few miles away, an angel proclaimed the birth to shepherds as they watched their flocks sleep. "Come see. Come see," it demanded. "Emmanuel is born at last!"

In another area, three wise men followed the star in the sky. It led them directly to a little town called Bethlehem and to the stable where Mary and Joseph sat with their baby son, Jesus.

The couple was not shocked when the shepherds and wise men arrived to see the child. They shared him with everyone who wanted to see him, including the animals that had viewed his birth.

It was the night of nights; the time of times and the gift of gifts. Everyone who witnessed the event knew they were blessed to do so. It would be celebrated for generations to come. It would herald in a new age of love, hope and peace. It would change the world forever. One single birth; one tiny baby boy!