by Theresa Haynes based on Luke 2:8-16 and 7:21

Abigail sat in the doorway of her grandfather’s house and felt the setting sun splash its warmth on her face. She traced her finger along the wooden doorframe as she waited. After a few minutes, she heard heavy footsteps and the sound of someone humming.

“Grandpapa!” Abigail cried, stretching out her arms.

The old man chuckled and hugged his granddaughter. She pressed her cheek against his rough coat and breathed in the scent of grass and sheep. He smiled and tweaked her nose.

Abigail felt the tweak, but she did not see Grandpapa’s smile.

She was blind.

Every afternoon Abigail sat in the sunshine and waited for her grandfather to come home from the fields, because she loved to hear his stories.

“Tell me the story about the baby,” Abigail said, reaching out to touch her grandfather’s rough hand.

“Ah,” he said. “That is my favorite.”

“We were in the fields outside Bethlehem one night,” he began. “And I looked up and saw an angel.”

“What was he like?” Abigail asked.

“He was huge,” Grandpapa said stretching out Abigail’s arms so she could feel the angel’s size. “And he was so bright I could feel the warmth beaming from his face.”

“Wow,” Abigail said.

“We were terrified,” Grandpa continued. “But the angel told us he had good news for all people—a baby was born. The baby was Christ the Lord, the Savior. He said we would find Him wrapped in rags and lying in a manger.

“Suddenly, the sky filled with thousands of angels. They were so bright that it looked like the middle of the day. And the angels were singing! Abigail, it was the most beautiful music I have ever heard. I’ll never forget the song, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ ”

Grandpa sat quietly for a minute, as if he were in that field again, listening to the song of heaven.

Abigail was quiet, too. She wished she could feel the warmth of angels and hear their music.

“What did you do?” she asked. Abigail knew the answer because she had heard Grandpapa tell the story many times. But she wanted to hear it again.

“After the angels left, we realized it was not a dream. So we went into town to find the baby. And there He was, just like the angel told us. There was no room for His family in the inn, so they were staying with the innkeeper’s animals.”

“What was the baby like?” Abigail asked.

“Ah, He was peaceful,” Grandpapa said. “I looked into His face, and I was so happy. I thought my heart would explode with joy. Then He opened His eyes, reached up and grabbed my little finger.”

Grandpapa grabbed Abigail’s little finger and gave it a gentle tug.

“Just like that,” he said.

Abigail giggled.

“What happened to Him, Grandpapa?” Abigail asked. “Did He grow up to be a king?”

“I don’t know. I heard His family left a couple of years later and went to Egypt. But that was more than 30 years ago.”

Grandpapa sighed.

“I wish I could have been there,” Abigail said. “I want to see angels and the Savior, too.”

Grandpapa placed his hand gently on Abigail’s head. He stroked her curly brown hair.

“Maybe someday you will,” he whispered.

The next afternoon, as Abigail sat in the doorway, she heard feet pounding the street.

“Jesus of Nazareth is in town!” a voice shouted. Other voices filled the air. Everyone was eager to see the great Healer and Teacher.

Abigail felt a tug on her hand. “Let’s go hear Jesus,” Grandpapa said.

They pressed through the noisy crowd. When Abigail and her grandfather found Jesus, the old man cupped his hands to his face and shouted.

“Teacher, please, will You touch my granddaughter?”

Jesus turned toward the shepherd.

“Where is she?” He asked.

Abigail stretched her hands high in the air.

“I’m here,” she answered.

Abigail felt a gentle hand touch her eyes.

Then she felt a heat stronger than the afternoon sun. She opened her eyes and saw Jesus.

He was smiling.

Abigail looked into His dark, happy eyes. For a moment she felt as if she and Jesus were the only two people on earth. She didn’t want to look away from His kind face. But she heard Grandpapa calling her name.

She turned and looked at him.

His old, brown eyes were full of tears.

“Thank you, Jesus,” he said.

Grandpapa reached out to grab the Healer’s hand. But instead of taking his hand, Jesus grabbed the old shepherd’s little finger and gave a gentle tug.

Grandpapa gasped in surprise. Then he stepped forward and hugged Jesus. “You grew up,” he whispered.

	Q: Where do bees go after they get married? A: On a honeymoon. Abby B., 10, Massachusetts Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe