When I was a child, my dad told me the farm animals talk on Christmas Eve. He grew up on a farm, but still, I didn’t really believe it could be true. Yet, there was always a sense of childish curiosity in the back of my mind that perhaps they really did talk on this most holy night! Over the years, I asked my dad several times to take me to my grandpa’s farm on Christmas Eve, but we never seemed to make it to the country farm outside of our small northern Illinois town on Dec. 24. Perhaps he didn’t want me to be disappointed. Or, perhaps, he thought he might be surprised! That sense of wonder inspired this piece. “’Twas the Night of the First Christmas” is a Biblical rendition of the familiar poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
— Paula Kirkpatrick
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the stable
All the creatures were stirring — even the doves in the gable.
The sheep acted restless, as if at a wolf’s lair.
The tails of the cows swished about in the air.
The donkey brayed loudly — not knowing quite why,
The dog cocked his ears and let out a big sigh.
The mice frolicked boldly — they didn’t seem to fear
The cat in the shadows who hovered so near.
Something was going to happen — they just knew
Someone was certainly coming — but who?
And then, in the midst of their stomping and stirring,
(Except for the cat, who was now gently purring)
Two people walked in, a man and his wife.
Their voices were quiet, but their eyes filled with strife.
They were tired and weary — they’d been traveling for days.
Yet their smiles showed relief in the lamplight’s soft rays.
They looked all around at the animals there
And said to the innkeeper, “It’s an answer to prayer.”
The two settled in, resting in the soft hay,
And suddenly the animals had nothing to say.
Their stirring and stomping immediately ceased,
And they quieted down with an air of deep peace.
So these were the visitors they sensed would arrive
Just two weary travelers, not four, or not five.
Why did they come here, what could it be
That brought these two here? Yet not two, but three!
A baby’s shrill cry broke the silence that night.
A baby’d been born — what a beautiful sight
To behold this wee one, nestled close to his mother,
And the animals sensed he would be like no other.
They watched o’er the child with wonder and awe
As his mother laid him in a manger of straw.
How happy they were to share their humble dwelling
With this wondrous boy — but who was this telling
They’d seen angels — God’s messengers—in brightness adorned,
Angels who’d said that a king had been born?
The animals turned from the baby to see
Shepherds entering the stable — could it truly be
They too knew this child was worthy of all?
Yes, the shepherds’ response was to kneel in the stall.
They said they’d heard angels gloriously sing
And tell them, “Come worship this newborn, a king!”
The shepherds soon left to tell others the news.
And quietly the cat began some soft mews.
The donkey hee-hawed, but sweetly of course,
It almost sounded like the neighs of a horse.
The dog’s howl was plaintive, like the cry of a wolf,
It actually echoed as it reached the thatched roof.
The mice squeaked in unison, their pitch was so high
That their sound filled the stable, that you could not deny.
The cows spoke so softly, in low gentle moos.
The doves also joined them with harmonious coos.
Just like the angels, their praise they did sing
(Each in his own language) to this newborn King.
Then the creatures exclaimed, “All is calm, all is bright
In our stall this first Christmas, so we bid you good night!”
