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Long, long time
ago, in a humble
and small
stable, some
animals talked,
and exchanging
ideas about
their lives.
And the ox, very
calm, said with
its patient
voice:
— All we do is
to work from sun
to sun. I pull
the plough
revolving the
earth to be
planted, and
lead the wagon
peaceful and
happily
performing my
job with no
complaints. The
lord can count
on me, always
firm on my job,
but I never
received any
praise.
The horse, which
ruminated on the
corner, nodded
its head:
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— I have also
done my best,
taking the lord
everywhere,
walking great
distances under
the scorching
sun, cold rain
or inclement
weather. But, as
a reward I have
received the
whip on my
back.
The donkey said,
in a sad tone:
— I have carried
heavy burdens
and never
complained, or
have I rejected
any of the work;
however
I have
never
received
any
extra
food for
my
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efforts. |
The cow, which
fed its
newly-born baby,
also commented:
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— I have also
felt the man’s
ingratitude. Not
happy to take
the milk that I
use to feed my
kids, he also
separates our
family, killing
us to eat our
meat, and use
our fur.
The sheep, which
heard it all
silently, and
whose look
observed through
the door, the
blue and clean
sky, covered
with stars,
sighed and
said:
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— Everybody is
right. I’m not
free from these
mistreatments
either, though I
always
collaborate with
my wool so that
man can
manufacture
clothes to be
protected from
the cold. But do
you know what I
heard the other
day? That a
Messiah is
expected
anxiously. They
say he’s coming
from the Sky to
love all men on
Earth, and take
them back to our
Father.
And the animals,
aware and
curious, feeling
a new hope,
asked in
unison:
— What else do
they say about
this Messiah
sent by God?
Tell us... Tell
us...
— They also say
that he’ll give
to everyone
according to
their works. So,
let’s trust God
who never lets
us down.
More comforted
and confident,
he animals
dreamed about
the Messiah that
night, which
everyone
imagined
according to
their tastes and
necessities, and
that would be
the Redeemer of
the world.
On the following
they saw, coming
from the road, a
man riding a
donkey, carrying
a beautiful
young woman.
As they couldn’t
get shelter for
the night, they
settled for that
humble stable.
They looked worn
out because of
the trip and the
lady expected a
baby.
Amazed, the
animals saw the
man organizing
the straw, to
make up a bed
for the woman.
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Some hours later
a beautiful baby
was born, under
the careful
sight of the
animals.
In the sky a
great star
arose,
prognosticating
an unlikely
event, and,
surrounding the
hack,
transformed into
an improvised
crib for the
newly-born, the
animals felt
compensated for
all the
suffering of
their lives,
aware of the
great importance
of such event.
And, in the peace of that environment, they
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recognized
in that
child
the
Messiah,
the
Christ
from
God, who
was born
on Earth
to teach
Love,
but who
preferred
as the
witness
of his
birth,
not men,
but the
humble,
industrious
and
sweet
animals
of
creation. |
Aunt Celia
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