Matthew's Gift
Matthew was a mouse. He
was the oldest, wisest mouse at the Bethlehem Inn. He
also had a very important job with the Inn.
He was in charge of ordering fresh straw for
the stalls in the barn. Now this might not seem so
urgent to you or I, but on those cold, winter nights,
I promise you, the other animals in the barn were very
grateful to Matthew for keeping fresh, warm straw in
their beds. And Matthew took his job very
seriously. He always made sure that he knew just how
much straw would be needed and when. He even kept a
list of "soon to be visiting dignitaries" so their
animals would have all the comforts of home when
visiting the Inn. Why, sometimes, Matthew would travel
for many miles to find the freshest, sweetest
smelling straw he could find.
(page 2)
One evening, when the nights were beginning to take on
an early chill, there was quite a stirring in the barn
among the animals. Matthew was anxious to find out why. "We have heard there will be a
visit from royalty soon" said the old donkey. "Perhaps
even a Prince" said the new baby lamb. "Yes, a Prince"
said the lamb's mother, "Who will grow to becme a
great leader someday." Well, Matthew knew his work was
cut out for him. He began making inquiries of his
regular suppliers. But the harvest that season had
been slim, and there was no fresh straw fit for a
Prince to be found in the whole town. So Matthew
packed a few belongings in his knapsack and started
out.
(page 3)
He walked for many days, asking every merchant he came upon, only to be told time and time again that
straw was too scarce and there was none to be spared.
The days were getting shorter and the nights colder
and longer. Matthew was beginning to become
discouraged. He had never disappointed a visitor
before. And to think he may not be able to satisfy
royalty! Oh, the shame! And Matthew was so tired. On
the 12th night of his journey, he had stopped against
an old tree stump to rest and think. He sat for a long
while not knowing what to do. And to make matters
worse, Matthew had to admit to himself that he was
lost! Now, he would not want everyone to know this,
but I will tell you. Matthew began to cry. He felt
ashamed. He felt that he had failed a great King. He
thought to himself, "I can't go back empty handed. I
must stay out here in the dark night, I'm so cold, so
lost, so alone....". He looked up to the sky in
desperation. Then something happened.
(page 4)
The cold night sky began to glow in a shimmering
light. Matthew heard beautiful music and suddenly an Angel appeared
above him! Well, he was so afraid that he tried to
hide behind the tree stump, but the Angel said,
"Matthew, why do you hide from me? Why are you
ashamed?" Matthew looked up and said, in a very
mouselike voice, "I cannot go home. I have failed to
find straw fit for a Prince." The Angel smiled.
"Matthew, your visitor will be a Prince, this is true,
and He will need straw, but not for His livestock. The
straw will be for His very own bed, which shall be in the
manger of your barn. But do not be ashamed, Matthew,
for this Prince does not require the freshest,
warmest, or sweetest of straw. He will not want for
riches or gold or other things. He will only ask for
your faith and your love. Anything you have to offer
will be all He needs. He will love you for who you are,
Matthew, and He will know you have tried."
(page 5)
"Who is this Prince? What shall I call him?" asked
Matthew. "You shall call Him Jesus, Matthew, and you
will be one of his children and He will care for you
and love you always and someday, He will take you to
live with His Father in a beautiful place called
Heaven. You must go back to your barn now, Matthew,
for the little Prince will be coming soon." Matthew
began to cry again. "But I am so lost". "Look,
Matthew, the Prince has given you a gift, a star to
follow. This star will lead you and many others to
Bethlehem, where He is waiting for you. Now go, matthew, and tell all you meet
about this great coming!"
(page 6)
Matthew felt a loving warmth in his heart. He started
toward home, following the star for a very long time,
stopping only to tell others of his great news. When
he finally reached the barn, there was a gathering of
animals around the manger. As Matthew came closer, he
saw a beautiful baby there, wrapped in swaddling
clothes. The other animals looked to the wise old
mouse and asked, "Is this the young Prince?" "Yes,"
Matthew answered, and showing his great wisdom said,
"And we shall call him Jesus, which means Saviour!"
AMEN
The cold night sky began to glow in a shimmering light. Matthew heard beautiful music and suddenly an Angel appeared above him! Well, he was so afraid that he tried to hide behind the tree stump, but the Angel said, "Matthew, why do you hide from me? Why are you ashamed?" Matthew looked up and said, in a very mouselike voice, "I cannot go home. I have failed to find straw fit for a Prince." The Angel smiled. "Matthew, your visitor will be a Prince, this is true, and He will need straw, but not for His livestock. The straw will be for His very own bed, which shall be in the manger of your barn. But do not be ashamed, Matthew, for this Prince does not require the freshest, warmest, or sweetest of straw. He will not want for riches or gold or other things. He will only ask for your faith and your love. Anything you have to offer will be all He needs. He will love you for who you are, Matthew, and He will know you have tried."
(page 5)
"Who is this Prince? What shall I call him?" asked Matthew. "You shall call Him Jesus, Matthew, and you will be one of his children and He will care for you and love you always and someday, He will take you to live with His Father in a beautiful place called Heaven. You must go back to your barn now, Matthew, for the little Prince will be coming soon." Matthew began to cry again. "But I am so lost". "Look, Matthew, the Prince has given you a gift, a star to follow. This star will lead you and many others to Bethlehem, where He is waiting for you. Now go, matthew, and tell all you meet about this great coming!"
(page 6)
Matthew felt a loving warmth in his heart. He started toward home, following the star for a very long time, stopping only to tell others of his great news. When he finally reached the barn, there was a gathering of animals around the manger. As Matthew came closer, he saw a beautiful baby there, wrapped in swaddling clothes. The other animals looked to the wise old mouse and asked, "Is this the young Prince?" "Yes," Matthew answered, and showing his great wisdom said, "And we shall call him Jesus, which means Saviour!"
AMEN