'This is a very important day' said the pigeons to each other as they flew above the stable.
Why was it so important?
Because TODAY it was the pigeons turn to tell their story in the stable. Slowly they circled round and round watching the other animals arriving for their storytime.
They were waiting for everyone to come as it was THEIR day and they wanted to make a grand entrance!
When they were satisfied that all had arrived, they zoomed in with a great flurry and flutter of wings.
'We are here' they announced as they strutted along the rafters.
Owl raised his eyebrows. 'I think we can see that' he drawled. 'What show-offs these pigeons are' he thought, but, being a gentleman, he didn't say anything.
Not so, Mr. Cat! He didn't stand on ceremony with anyone, so - 'Are we going to hear your story tonight, or are you going to strut around and show off?' he asked. 'If so, I'll just go home now' and Mr. Cat got up, stretched himself, and was about to walk across the stable when the pigeons swooped down.
'Please don't go, Mr. Cat' they pleaded. 'We are going to begin right now, please sit down again'.
Mr. Cat chuckled quietly to himself. 'That should teach them not to show off in future' he muttered as he made his way back to where he had been sitting.
A sigh of relief could be heard echoing around the stable as Donkey said 'NOW, pigeons please, tell us your story Now!'
The pigeons swelled visibly with pride as the first one began. 'Your stories, of course, are very interesting, but they are only what you saw or heard, whereas WE actually took part in our story!' And they looked at one another and nodded, so full of pride and importance.
Donkey sighed, and in a small voice, almost to himself, murmured sadly, 'Have you really forgotten my story, and the wonderful part I played?'
The animals began fidgeting uneasily, and Mr. Cat thought 'I'll have to deal with them again, I can see.' Then, fixing the pigeons with a stern stare, was about to rise when the second pigeon, sensing trouble, hastily took up the story.
'We were flying around the town watching what everyone was doing when we noticed one of the houses filling with people. Others were standing outside looking through the windows, and some were trying to push their way in. Well, we hadn't seen anything like this before so we flew over and landed on the roof. We listened and heard someone talking.' He paused and looked around, then smiled.
'It was Jesus, wasn't it?' asked Squirrel.
'Yes, Jesus, talking and healing' answered the pigeon. 'We could have sat there for hours just listening to Him and watching.’
‘Tell them what we did. Tell them what we did' interrupted a third pigeon.
'I'm not up to that part of the story yet' the second pigeon answered his friend. 'I must tell them about the four men first' and so he continued the story.
'Whilst we were on the roof I looked down the road and saw four men carrying a paralyzed man on a bed - a sort of thick padded quilt.’
'What does paralyzed mean?' whispered a little mouse.
'It means the man couldn't walk' answered Owl, very pleased to show off his wisdom.
'Thank you, Owl' said the mouse.
The pigeon picked up his story again. 'These four men tried to get into the house, but it was impossible, SO' and here he paused importantly.
Again the third pigeon spoke up 'Let me tell them' he cried. The other two pigeons nodded, they could see how excited he was. So, hopping from one foot to the other in his excitement, the third pigeon told the animals how the four men climbed on to the roof with the paralyzed man and began making a hole in it.
'And this is where we helped' he said proudly. 'Because we also pulled at the straw and took away pieces of clay. Oh, yes, we actually helped' and he looked at his friends who chorused 'Yes, we actually helped!'
A chuckle went round the stable as all the animals looked at the pigeons. They were so puffed up with pride that they looked almost twice their size!!
'What happened next?' piped up the small voice of hedgehog tucked away in a corner.
The first pigeon now spoke. 'We made a large hole in the roof, and the four men lowered their friend down to Jesus.
We clung to the edge of the hole so that we could see and hear everything, and we heard Jesus tell the sick man that his sins were forgiven.’
'Oh, and weren't the teachers of the law angry when they heard that' broke in the second pigeon, and they giggled as they remembered.
'But was the man healed, did he walk?' It was the hedgehog again who anxiously asked the question.
'Of course, it was Jesus remember!' said the three pigeons all together. 'Jesus told him to pick up his bed and walk AND HE DID'
Again the pigeons paused and nodded at each other 'Yes, he did.'
'You really are the most irritating of birds' growled Mr. Cat.
'That's because they never saw the man again so can't finish their story' cawed Crow mischievously' and out he flew.
The animals looked expectantly at the pigeons.
'We've seen him many times since then' the second pigeon said very quietly, all feeling of pride now gone. 'He really is a very happy man and full of praise for Jesus who has changed his life.’
'Changed lives' echoed Donkey quietly. 'How many times we have seen this happen, even to us.’
There was silence and a feeling of peace and harmony as each one sat with their own thoughts of Jesus, who alone can change lives, and how they loved Him so very much.