A Christmas Story

To Touch the Hand of God

 

 

I don’t know why I have to endure such hardship and suffering, Samuel thought. I never wanted to be a sheep herder. I never wanted to spend my time outside. I wanted to be a money collector… No, better than that I wanted to be a soldier, a man of authority.

 

He stood straight and puffed his chest out... and slumped in deflation just a quickly.  His one piece garment brushed against the rock he stood on. He looked down in disgust noting there was no difference in color between the rock and his garment. Even the color of his sandals blended into the rock.

 

I’m eighty five years old. No one would take me as a soldier now, he thought.

 

He sighed and picked up his staff. He saw the little ewe as it stumbled across a rock and fell on its side. He hurried over to help the lamb. It was bleating with vigor, kicking furiously trying to right itself. He reached down to stroke its head murmuring soothing words as he worked to set the lamb upright.

 

“It’s alright. I’ve got you now.”

 

He grunted as he struggled with the small lamb. His age had taken its tole on his strength. He finally got the animal upright and lifted the lamb by its neck and shoulders. At last the ewe got its footing and scrambled away. Losing his balance, Samuel sat back down with a bump. He laughed and rubbed his thigh.

 

I don’t know why I am so grumpy today, he thought. No amount of authority could give me the satisfaction I feel when I help one such as these. They are so helpless without their shepherd.

 

This time he had reason to puff out his chest. He saved the life of one of the little ones. And he could do that at least once a day.

 

They need me and in some ways I need them more, he thought.

 

Samuel smiled as he looked over his flock. God had a plan and he knew it was not his job to second guess the all-mighty one.

Samuel moved from from his sitting position to kneeling before the LORD. He put his hands together and started his prayer.

 

Blessed are you O’Lord my God King of the Universe. Have mercy on me. Forgive me for forgetting that you have a plan for everything. Amen

 

When Samuel opened his eyes he realized it was almost evening. He used his cane to stand and headed to the night camp. He sat with his friends when one of them spoke to the group.

“We need some to go out tonight and guard the sheep. We have reports of wolves seen today.”

 

Samuel stood up.

“I will go. My old bones will not let me sleep much any how. I will take the dog and nap when he is quiet.”

 

Several of his friends agreed to go with him for the first watch. They walked out to the pasture and found a place to sit to talk in the star lit evening.

 

Samuel thought he had fallen asleep and was dreaming when he saw a man surrounded by a bright light. He was dressed in white and his hair was white. The shepherds fell to their knees in fear. And the angel began to speak.

 

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.”

 

Samuel saw many bright lights that appeared to be praising God and he heard them say:

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

They were gone as quickly as they appeared. Samuel went with the rest of the shepherds to look for the baby. When they saw the stable they knew it was the place the babe slept.

 

Samuel trembled and fell to his knees when he saw the babe. In his heart he knew that this was the Saviour.   The babe waved his arms about and Samuel reached out and touched his hand.

 

He felt as if lightening struck his heart.

 

My Saviour, he thought. I have touched the hand of God.