(It is not a place I'd want to give birth as Mary did, but still...)
When I was in high school, not only did I have our five horses to care for, I also took care of the neighbor's two horses and donkey. Every day after taking care of my herd, I headed to the neighbor's barn and fed those three.
One Christmas I heard the legend about why donkeys and burros have a cross on their backs. It was due to the honor of having carried Mary, pregnant with the Christ child. According to the legend, God gave the donkey the mark of the cross to ever honor him for his service.
Jose, the donkey I cared for, had a prominent cross, although he was such a stinker, I could not imagine him carrying Mary!
The other legend I'd heard was that, at midnight on Christmas Eve, all animals would kneel in remembrance of the Christ child, and that if you hid in a barn, you could witness that event. I always wanted to see, just in case the legend was true, but my nice warm bed on Christmas Eve was just too inviting.
Humble beginnings for the Savior of the world. And yet, there is such a message behind the place of His birth, one of love and connection and acceptance of all.
I won't drive out to the barn this Tuesday night, hoping to see Abby and her herdmates kneel. But I will remember the Savior and His birth, the place of His birth, and the role the donkey played in helping to bring to pass God's gift to us all.
Merry Christmas!
