'Oh, I'm so bored' said Donkey, and he yawned. 'Not a visit from anyone all day. I'll be so glad when it's story-time' and he looked out of the stable door into the busy village street. He could see the pigeons and sparrows flying overhead, and in the field next to the stable Mr. Dog was playing 'chase' with the rabbits. They were good friends, and often played together. He watched them for a while then decided it was time for tea. He had just finished when in walked, very sedately, Mr. Cat.
'Hello, Mr. Cat' said Donkey brightening up. 'I'm so glad to see you. I was just wishing someone would call.'
'Well' said Mr. Cat. 'I had come prepared to tell my story, but there's no-one here' and he glanced round the empty stable.
'They'll all be here shortly' Donkey assured him.
There was a pause, then in flew two pigeons. 'Hello' they called cheerily. 'Are you going to tell your story tonight Mr. Cat?'
'That's why I am here, I said I would be' answered Mr. Cat rather haughtily. 'But my story is far too important for so few folk' and he was about to walk out of the stable when the pigeons stopped him.
'Don't go, Mr. Cat' they pleaded. 'Just give us a couple of minutes and we will have your audience for you' and out they flew.
Mr. Cat returned to where the Donkey was standing, and slowly stretched out on the floor - the cosiest place of course! 'I'll give them two minutes' he said. 'My time is precious, and it's a lovely evening, I could be doing many things.'
The Donkey relaxed, he knew the pigeons would be as good as their word. Sure enough, within moments, in flew a flutter of sparrows, followed by a rather sleepy looking owl who had been roused from his sleep. It was rather early for him,and he yawned.
'That's better' observed Mr. Cat as he saw the stable beginning to fill.
Before the two minutes were up the stable was crowded with all the animals, there didn't appear to be anyone missing. Mr. Cat was most gratified and he gave the pigeons a quiet smile when they zoomed in, quite out of breath.
'You can begin now, Mr. Cat' said Donkey, and so Mr. Cat began his story.
'My story begins when I was a very tiny kitten, in fact it was my first walk out with my Mother' he said. 'She took me to see the great Temple, and I remember feeling rather bewildered as the place was crowded. My Mother told me that it was a Feast Day, and many people came to Jerusalem to attend the Festival. The crowds were in a happy mood though, they gave us little pieces of their lunch, and I began to enjoy myself. We walked to the Temple door, but my Mother would not allow me to go in.' 'It's where they worship God' she told me. 'It is a very Holy place.' Instead she took me for a tour of the Temple Courtyards. They were most interesting. A very exciting first outing, in fact.'
'I agree with you' said owl. 'I often fly over the Temple area. I even sit on the roof at times' and he looked round rather fiercely as if daring anyone to say he shouldn't do that! All the animals were a little in awe of the owl, however, so no-one spoke.
Mr. Cat was not one to be easily awed, however, so he just gave owl one of his haughty stares, and continued. 'It was a few days later, when my Mother was snoozing in the sunshine, that I decided to go off on an adventure of my own. I started out, and very soon found myself back in the Temple area. It was not so crowded now as the Festival was over, so I almost had the place to myself.
I wandered round until I came to the Temple door and' ..... here he paused and looked round to give his story the greatest effect .... 'And, I went into the Temple.'
'Oh!' the animals were astounded.
'Did you really, Mr. Cat?' asked a dove.
'Oh, yes' he replied confidently. 'I wanted to see what it looked like inside!'
'It's beautiful. We know' squeaked a little mouse.
'Yes, you would' drawled Mr. Cat looking intently at them. 'I thought I heard a few of you about as I walked around.'
The mice didn't say another word!. They just sat very quietly after that.
'I was beginning to feel a little tired after so much walking' continued Mr. Cat. 'So I looked for a place to rest a while. I heard voices coming from one of the rooms, so I decided to see what was going on. I crept very quietly into the room so as not to disturb anyone, and there, sitting in a circle was a group of very learned men. My Mother had pointed them out to me telling me how wise they were but they didn't interest me so I curled up in a corner and was about to doze off when I noticed that they were listening to a young boy of about 12 years old, it was Jesus!'
The animals looked at one another, smiled and nodded. br> 'Even I, tiny kitten though I was, could see they were astounded at the things He was saying' went on Mr. Cat. 'He asked such deep questions, and gave such wise answers to the questions they were asking Him. I forgot all about having a nap!'
'Jesus must have been a remarkable child' observed Squirrel. 'I saw Jesus when He was a man. Has anyone else seen Jesus when He was a boy?'
The animals began shaking their heads. 'No, not I' 'No, not us' they said.
'Then you are the only one of us to have seen Jesus as a boy, Mr. Cat' said squirrel. 'How fortunate you have been.'
This thought really pleased Mr. Cat. He was delighted. He had always known he was "special" and this certainly proved it! Oh, yes, he was very pleased. In fact he sat for quite some time happily thinking of how "special" he was!
'Mr. Cat' said hedgehog fidgetting slightly. 'Can you remember what happened next?' He was rather tired of Mr. Cat's superior airs.
'Of course I can remember, I can remember very well' replied Mr. Cat rather sharply.
'Whilst I was listening to Jesus suddenly the door burst open, and in came a man and a woman in a dreadful state. "Son" cried the woman. 'Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching all over for you.'
"But why did you need to search' Jesus asked them. "Didn't you know I would be here in the Temple, in my Father's house?"
'I could see the look of puzzlement on His Mother's face' said Mr.Cat. 'But she didn't say anything, she took hold of Jesus' hand and Jesus walked away with them out of the Temple, very obediently.'
'Did you follow them?' asked one of the sparrows.
'No' replied Mr. Cat. 'When I saw His Mother's face I realised just how long I had been away from MY Mother, and I knew what to expect from her if I didn't get back before she woke! So I ran back home as quickly as I could'!!
The animals all laughed. They understood.
'And talking of running home, I think it's about time we made our way home too' said the sparrows as they looked out of the window into the deepening dusk. They then thanked Mr. Cat, flapped their wings, and out they flew.
As they slowly circled the stable their voices could be clearly heard by the other animals.
'I am so glad' one of the sparrows said. 'So glad that we can share our stories of Jesus with each other.'
'Yes' agreed another sparrow, 'I think that's what our Heavenly Father wants us to do, don't you?'
The animals in the stable all agreed with the Sparrows as one by one they said "Goodnight" to the Donkey thanked Mr. Cat and promised to return again the following night to hear more about their beloved Jesus.
Elizabeth Aynsley © 1969

Luke CH.2 Vs 41 to 52