“Here!” A shepherd called. Daniel could see a stable up ahead. A quaint cut-out in the rock, it didn’t have much to boast. 'The Messiah is here?' Daniel was taken aback. Surely the Son of God would at least have a bed of his own…

Daniel’s father stepped forward, walking with reverence towards the stable. Daniel could see a man arise within. He was young. 'Not much older than Amos…' he realized. His father greeted the man and motioned to the rest of them. The man nodded and smiled. Daniel’s heart raced as his father motioned for them to come near. At his father’s side, Daniel saw a young woman, hardly older than himself, gazing down at a sleeping baby in a feeding trough. Though she looked tired, and her dark hair was disheveled, her eyes seemed to hold a sparkle of joy.

“Is this the Messiah?” Daniel asked softly, hardly believing it to be true. Surely the Messiah would be grander than this…

The woman nodded kindly. “His name is Jesus.” The baby awoke and began to cry. The woman scooped him gently into her arms, and he started to calm. Daniel raised an eyebrow. 'He has a common name too… How can this possibly be the Messiah?'

He saw the woman gazing at him, a look of understanding in her eyes. “Would you like to hold him?” Her voice was gentle. Daniel’s eyes widened, and he could feel the eyes of the other shepherds on his back.

“M..me?” He pointed a finger to his chest. The woman nodded, smiling. “I… I…” He hesitated. A whirlwind of anxious ‘what-if's' began to fill his mind. He felt a hand on his shoulder and gazed up to see his father, who gave Daniel a reassuring smile and nod. Daniel looked back to the woman and nodded. He walked over and she handed him the baby.

'He’s so small…' Daniel marveled, his breath catching in his chest as he gazed upon Jesus. The baby squirmed and opened his eyes. Those little brown eyes found Daniel’s, and he thought he saw a glimmer of both powerful authority and love in them. An odd feeling washed over him, and he felt an overwhelming peace. 'This is the Messiah!' Daniel couldn’t explain how he felt so certain, but in that moment, he knew. Reality hit him and he smiled wide, unexplainable tears forming in his eyes. 'I’m holding the Messiah!'

Daniel looked to his father, and noticed that his eyes were also brimming with joy. He gazed back upon Jesus as the little baby gently grasped his tunic. Daniel was shocked to realize that nobody else knew that the Messiah was here. He had been one of the first to know. 'But I’m just a lowly shepherd…' Daniel thought, awed. As warm tears ran down his face, he sniffled, smiling at the baby that would one day save them all. 'Maybe being a shepherd isn’t so bad after all…'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's the truth behind the story:

”And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.“

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~Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭20‬