Two very tired children curled up on the rug at Grandpa's feet,their faces glowing healthily after their day at the seaside.
'Are you sure you aren't too tired for a story tonight?' Grandpa teased.
'No' they said, immediately sitting up smartly. 'See, we are wide-awake, not a bit tired really'.
Grandpa laughed. 'You should be, after all the running about and paddling you did. You certainly tired me!!'
The children were laughing now. 'Oh, Grandpa, you enjoyed it as much as we did, especially when your sand-castle was voted the best'.
They were all laughing, they had had a brilliant day.
'Can we go again, Grandpa?' Thomas asked.
'Would you really like to?' asked Grandpa in pretend surprise.
'You know we would' Bethan said, climbing on his knee. 'You are a tease' and she ruffled his hair.
'Well if you are all ready let's see what is happening in the stable tonight shall we?
So Grandpa began their story.

'Crack! Clatter!' the animals in the stable looked at each other and shivered. Another branch had snapped off the tree in the storm. They couldn't remember the last time they had seen such damage done by the wind and rain. How glad they were to be warm and safe in the stable.
A flash of lightning lit up their faces as a Seagull flew in, or rather was blown in by the strength of the wind. He was out of breath.
'I beg your pardon' he gasped. 'I didn't mean to intrude'.
'You are very welcome' said Donkey. 'Do join us, we are all friends'.
'We meet here every day to tell stories' said Mr.Dog.
'Stories!' said the Seagull. 'Now I know who you are. We have heard of your story-time in Galilee where I live.
'My! You have flown a long way' interrupted the smallest sparrow.
The Seagull gave an embarassed chuckle. 'I didn't intend to' he said. 'The storm sort of carried me along, but I'm very glad it did now' and he gave them a wide happy smile.
The animals responded to his pleasure with a chorus of 'It's lovely to make new friends' 'We are so glad you came' and 'Come and sit by us' - this latter from the pigeons on the rafters.
The Seagull flew up to join them as they moved along to make a place for him.
'Is it time for your story hour?' he asked. 'I should love to hear some of them'.
So the animals spent the next hour or so telling the Seagull a few of their stories.
'Who was going to tell the story tonight?' asked Mr. Dog when there was a pause in the story telling.
'I believe it was the Lamb's turn' answered hedgehog. 'But I dare say he wont come out in this weather'.
'I don't blame him' growled Mr. Cat, snugly curled up in the warmest corner.
'Well' said Seagull rather hesitantly seeing he was a newcomer to the stable. 'I could take his turn and tell my story - if that's all right with you?'
'Yes, of course' answered Donkey. 'We would love to hear your story.'
Looking around the stable the Seagull could see all the animals nodding in agreement, encouraging smiles on their faces. So, feeling relaxed and welcome, the Seagull began.
'Telling my story in a storm is very appropriate' he said. 'As my story is all about a storm. It happened one day on the Galilean Lake. One moment everything was calm, and I was resting on the waves, and the next moment the wind rose and a fierce storm raged over the Lake. It was very frightening. In fact it was so bad I knew I couldn't reach the shore, so I looked round to see if there were any boats on the Lake'.
'And were there any?' asked hedgehog, very scared at the thought of being out in such a storm.
'Fortunately, yes' answered Seagull. 'I managed to battle my way to a little boat which was being tossed up and down on the waves, and I clung on to the rigging with all my strength. The men in the boat were scared, too, they could see the danger they were in. The waves were almost swamping the boat'.
Seagull chuckled. 'You will never believe this' he said. 'But there was a man lying fast asleep in the boat, even though it was almost sinking!' and he chuckled again as he remembered. 'The men in the boat' he continued ' scrambled over to the sleeping man and woke him saying "Don't you care if we all die, Master?"
'The man, who was Jesus, of course, then stood up in the tossing boat and told the wind and sea to be peaceful, and they were - immediately!'
Seagull shook his head in amazement as he marvelled at the miracle. 'I have been out in many storms, but I had never seen anything like this before' he said.
'What did the disciples say?' asked Squirrel. He hated storms, and this story was really rather frightening. How glad he was that he was safe in the warm stable, and not on the Lake in that fearsome storm.
'Jesus asked the disciples why they had been so frightened, didn't they have faith in Him?' Seagull answered. 'But the disciples were still scared, and I could hear them asking each other what sort of man Jesus really was that even the wind and waves obeyed Him'.
'Well, that was an exciting story' said one of the little mice. I feel quite exhausted just listening to it'.
The animals chuckled and Seagull smiled at him. 'I must admit I was very glad when Jesus calmed the storm, it really was fierce.'
? 'What a powerful Lord we have' said Donkey thoughtfully. Power over the wind and waves, the thunder and lightning' and he fell silent in wonder.
After a few moment Mr. Dog walked over to the door, sniffed at the clean fresh air after the storm, and said 'I do love to go for a walk after a storm, everything smells so much nicer'.
Then, looking up at Seagull, added 'Thank you for your story, I hope you will come again. I think it's fine enough for you to get home now in safety'.
'I should like to come again' said Seagull. 'May I bring my cousin next time. He also has an exciting story to tell you.'
'He will be very welcome' answered Donkey. Seagull smiled at them all, said "Good-bye" and soared off into the sky.
And the animals walked out into the sweet fresh air, still feeling a sense of awe and wonder at the power of their amazing Master.
Elizabeth Aynsley 1969 ©

Luke CH.8 Vs.22 to 25