The Nativity
The two weary travelers LEFT __the dark, dusty road and entered the crowded town of Bethlehem. Everywhere they looked people bustled RIGHT __ past them, heading toward places of rest.
They had all LEFT _their towns and villages and come to Bethlehem loaded down with bags and baskets in order to be registered and counted. The young woman sighed. She was exhausted RIGHT_ down to her bones.
Even though she was due to give birth at any time, she had journeyed RIGHT__ beside her husband to Bethlehem. The trip ACROSS the desert had been long and tiring, and more than anything Mary just wanted to fall RIGHT__ into bed and rest.
She waited patiently as Joseph went from one inn ACROSS to another in search of a place for them to stay, but after a while it became clear that there were no vacant rooms LEFT __ in town. The last innkeeper the young couple spoke to had compassion on them when he saw that the young woman was expecting.
He offered to let them stay in the stable RIGHT__ behind his inn. It was not what they had expected or wanted, but the two travelers thanked the innkeeper and followed him RIGHT__ out to the small, dark enclosure.
It was RIGHT__ there in that cold stable, surrounded by animals and the smell of hay, that Mary gave birth to her Son, Jesus! She wrapped Him RIGHT__ up in strips of cloth to keep His tiny form warm against the cold air.
A trough had been LEFT__ empty so Joseph filled it with hay and laid tiny baby Jesus inside it. The animals gathered from ACROSS the manger to see the little squirming infant that had been LEFT__ in the hay.
Young Mary smiled as she watched them lean RIGHT__ down over the child to gaze adoringly at Him. They seemed to recognize their tiny King RIGHT__ away and it thrilled and amazed His parents.
Later into the night, there was a commotion RIGHT__ outside the stable. The little family roused from sleep to see a group of shepherds who had LEFT__ the fields to come RIGHT__ into the town seeking the newborn child.
The shepherds told Mary and Joseph of how angels had appeared ACROSS the sky before them in the night and had shared with them the glorious news of the birth of the Messiah.
They had hurried RIGHT__ off to find Him among the crowds in Bethlehem. The shepherds LEFT__ their bleating sheep at the door and knelt RIGHT__ before the young child in the manger.
They worshipped and praised the baby and shed happy tears of hope and joy as they gazed upon Him. They LEFT__ the stable and went out into the city to tell everyone they met about what they had seen in the night.
Mary picked up tiny baby Jesus and cradled him RIGHT__ against her heart. She thought of all the things that had happened that night: the birth, the animals, the angels, and the shepherds.
She knew that what had come to pass was the miracle the angel had told her about. The Son of God had LEFT__ His throne in Heaven and had come to Earth to redeem His people at last. The prophecies ACROSS the centuries were being fulfilled RIGHT__ before her eyes.
She looked down at her sleeping child. She knew He was more than her son. She was holding the King of Kings, the Hope of all mankind RIGHT__ in her arms.
7 окт 2024
