| Nathalie's Special Gift A Christmas Story |
| “Boy it sure is busy tonight,” 16-year-old Nathalie thought to herself as she stood in the kitchen door peering into the large dinning room that was overflowing with people. “I wonder where they’re all going and why,” she questioned inwardly. “Nathalie hurry up,” the voice came from behind her. She turned to see her friend Sarah standing at the oven with an impatient expression on her face. “He’s waiting for his meal,” Sarah said, her tone implying that Nathalie would be punished if she didn’t get out into the dinning room quickly. Both girls knew that their master was not the nicest guy in town and if you didn’t do your job properly boy would you ever catch it. “Who’s waiting?” Nathalie asked. “Mr. Andrews,” Sarah replied. Nathalie slapped her forehead. “Oh my goodness I almost forgot!” she exclaimed. She thanked her friend, picked up the tray and slipped into the crowded dinning room, hopefully her master was busy and would not notice her tardiness. He didn’t and Nathalie slowly let out her breath. She was in the middle of serving the well dressed man when noticed a young man no more than 20 she guessed standing at the door. He was dressed in peasant’s clothing but he had a kind face and ice blue eyes that had a soft gentle look in them. Out of the corner of her eye Nathalie saw her master coming towards him. “What do you want?” he asked sharply. “My wife is about to give birth to her first child and we need a place to stay sir,” the young man replied hesitantly. Nathalie had finished serving Mr. Andrews and had crept near enough so that she had a clear view of everything taking place. “I don’t have room for you go away,” her master said coldly. Nathalie saw the hurt look in the young man’s eyes as he slowly turned away and she heard him say, “My dear sweet Mary where will your child the Savior, the Redeemer of the world be born tonight?” She knew then what she could and had to do no matter what the consequences. “Master,” she said softly. The innkeeper turned at the sound and Nathalie cowered further under the table where she had been crouching. When her master saw her his eyes flashed with anger and his hand rose to strike her. “What in the world are you doing under there child?” he asked harshly. “Get back to work.” Nathalie took a deep breath. “Why can’t they have the stable?” “Who child?” “The poor man and his wife, it’s not much I know, but it would be worlds better for the child, not to mention the mother if the birth took place somewhere warm instead of outside in the cold.” “Is the stable clean child?” her master asked “Yes Peter just cleaned it this morning, it’s full of clean straw and hay, and I could bring down some old blankets.” The master’s eyes softened “The female mind is a marvel I never would have thought of that myself, he said under his breath as be looked in amazement at his 16 year old servant. He put his hand on her shoulder “Go child do what you have purposed I will not keep you from it for indeed I can not.” Nathalie thanked him and ran off like a streak of lightning to do her task. First, she ran up to the loft and brought down some old blankets then running to the stable she made a bed of fresh straw, and covered it with blankets for the young woman. She found an empty manger, filled it with clean hay, and made a bed of sorts for the child out of the remaining blankets. After this she ran back to the inn and started to heat some water on the stove, then pulling on her coat she ran out into the icy cold, star-studded night. “I hope I can find them,” she thought to herself It didn’t take her long to find the young man. “Shalom” she called when she reached them. “Peace be on you also young one,” the young man said. “I found a place for you, it’s not exactly a palace but it’s warm.” she told him. The young man smiled warmly and said, “Thank you most kindly young one what is your name?” “My name is Nathalie,” she returned. “My name is Joseph and this is my wife Mary,” he said as he gestured toward the young woman. Mary smiled and Nathalie returned it. “Would you like to follow me?” she invited. Joseph turned the donkey around. “Come on old boy, not much longer now.” he said. When they reached the stable Nathalie made the young mother as comfortable as she could. “I’ll be right back.” she promised and quickly returned to the inn to get the water that had been heating. It was ready for use now so she swiftly returned to the stable. When she returned she noticed that the young mother was breathing more heavily. She set down the pot of hot water, came over and sat down beside her. “Relax Mary,” she said gently “Breathe easy, breathe, good, relax, push gently, there now rest for awhile. After about an hour of this a healthy baby boy was born. Nathalie washed him in the hot water, wrapped him in a blanket, and gave him to his mother who was resting quietly on the bed of straw. “What is his name?” Nathalie asked softly. Mary looked up her face beaming. “His name is Jesus which means Savior.” Nathalie looked down at the tiny child who was sleeping peacefully. She took him from his mother and laid him gently in his manger bed. “Why did you name him Jesus?” she asked. “Because he’s God’s special gift to everyone, he will redeem us from our sins,” Mary explained. “Jesus, that’s a lovely name and to think he came down from Heaven for everyone including me.” Nathalie said. Mary smiled. “That’s right He came for you.” Nathalie begun to sing, “Jesus, my Jesus God’s only Son, His chosen One. You will save the world from sin and reconcile us to Him, but for now sleep dear little child sleep dear little one.” then she knelt and kissed him. “What does your name mean?” Mary asked “Child of sorrow.” Nathalie replied. “Well from now on it will mean Christmas Child because you’ve helped make Christmas possible.” Mary said with a smile at her “Christmas Child, I like it.” Nathalie said. “Now go back to the inn my child your master is probably wondering were on earth you are.” Nathalie nodded “Good night Mary, good night Joseph.” She went over to the manger and kissed the Baby Jesus on the forehead “Good night my dear sweet little Jesus.” she said softly then she left them and went back to the inn. When Nathalie returned to the Inn she told her master everything that had happened. He listened and then he said, “I know I was watching you.” Nathalie looked up at him in surprise. “Yes, I saw everything and I saw that you deserve more then you’re getting.” “What do you mean?” Nathalie asked “As you know Nathalie my wife and I have no child of our own, so we decided to adopt one of our maids as a daughter. I didn’t know which of our maids to pick until tonight.” Nathalie’s curiosity was aroused. “Which of us have you chosen?” she asked. “You child, you’re the type of child we want.” Nathalie couldn’t contain her joy, she now had a real family. Her new father reached out, took her in his arms, kissed her and let her cry her tears of joy. After the storm was spent her father said, "Now go get some sleep my child we have a big day tomorrow.” He led her up to the master’s quarters and called his wife. She dressed Nathalie in a silk nightgown, tucked her into a real bed not a cot, and said “Goodnight my dear I’ll see you in the morning.” As Nathalie fell asleep she thought, “I’ve been given the best gift of all love and a family. She closed her eyes and fell happily asleep. |