December 23  Re 1:1 - 2:29
December 24  Re 3:1 - 5:14

Linked to Bible Gaitway TM 

THE LITTLE OL' DONKEY 
THAT HAD LITTLE TO SAY 

It was the night before Christmas when al the beasts came together from the furthest places of the earth to talk. The first voice to be heard was the deep rich bass voice of the Lion. "I speak," he said, "as the King of Beasts." And truly he looked a king with his beautiful thick mane and his tawny rippling muscles. "I won't repeat my good deeds. I shall not again tonight repeat the shinning stories of the days when the Romans loved me. I shall not recall the story of the one man, Daniel, who defied me in my den . . . a story humbling to me . . . which I have often told you to prove I am not proud. I shall say nothing of my stealthy fury that makes the whole continent tremble at the very sound of my name . . ."

 "Then I shall speak," and by the trumpet sound, the beasts knew the elephant spoke. "I am the biggest beast on earth. My size and my strength awe nations. Yet I can walk so softly and lightly that no ear can hear my coming. Isn't that something to be proud of? And I don't believe any of you can flip a tremendous teak log over your shoulder as handily as I can. That takes power. Yes, and who else here has been a beast of war? Who else has crossed the Alps? You know how very high the Alps are! I and my strong brothers helped the famous General Hannibal and his soldiers over them in one of his great campaigns. And Hannibal's in history books all over the world." 

A strange, whispering voice broke in: "You know me, the Giraffe. Usually I stay silent, but I hope you'll remember I'm the tallest and can look down on you. But please don't think I am bragging because I an up here above you. I can eat from the tops of trees. Nobody else can do that. Besides being the tallest, I can run faster than most . . ." 

"Let me interrupt." It was the Leopards voice. You'd have to move very fast to outrun certain striped and spotted cousins of mine who hold most of the speed records. Right, Cousins?" The Tiger nodded his head and the Cheetah, fastest of all, smiled. 

The camel, till now had been chewing his cud and watching with sad eyes. He cleared his throat and his voice rasped out: "I am neither handsome nor fleet. I have some trouble keeping clean. But I have the right to feel as proud as anyone here. I helped build the pyramids of Egypt! Have any of you ever tackled a job that big? I am used to going many days without water, across scorching sands that would burn the feet off most of you within hours. My friends, the Camels count, and I have the right to feel happy." 

For a long while after the Camel's speech, there was silence. Then the Llama coughed and said: "I am by nature modest. One thing, however . . . I have had much experience in crossing mountains. You have heard of the Andes, my home, and the war work I have done." 

Other's spoke too. The Goose honked, "I laid a golden egg once. Who else has done that?" 

The Turtle said, "I'm the slowest. It's better. When you go fast you go around in circles." 

The Fox said, "I am the slyest, the trickiest, and probably the brainiest of you all." 

The Zebra said, "For confusion, I'm best. Am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes?" 

The Grizzly Bear said, "Who, that is as heavy as I, can climb a tree as well?"

 And the Polar Bear said, "Can anybody but me swim with icebergs or catch fish with a paw?" 

All this time a little gray beast stood listening. Finally, the other animals looked his way. There wasn't much he could do but speak. "I am a Donkey," he began, in a voice so hoarse and low that the beasts leaned forward to hear. "I can't run fast or go days without water. I couldn't swim a stroke among icebergs. I've never climbed a tree. Nobody is afraid of me." Lower and lower sank the little donkey's voice. His ears drooped, and his head bowed. The other beasts could hardly hear him. Suddenly he raised his head. His eyes looked far away in time and space and there was a strange glow around him. "Only one thing I have ever done has ever stuck in my mind. It happened a long, long time ago . . . on the way to Egypt in the dark of night. I carried a mother, who carried a King."

—Religious Digest