A Donkey's Trek

Munching on fresh straw from it's manger, the donkey lifted his head as the human approached. Taking it from his hand, the human looped the rope gently around the donkey's neck and led it outside of the stable room. The man shook the straw from his sandals and brushed the dust from his robes before picking up the carry bags and loading the donkey with them. He then lifted a girl onto its back and they turned to another woman, who looked much like the donkey's rider, but older and disturbed by something. The couple waved to her before facing the rocky track. The donkey began to walk.

The donkey walked and walked that day, stopping only occasionally for food, water and to change the girl's position. She was an acquire rider, so young and fragile, yet the donkey felt great respect for her. Several times throughout the day she silently doubled over in pain and almost unconsciously gripped the donkey's fur so tightly that he winced gruffly. But as soon as she became aware of what pain she caused, the girl loosened her hand to stroke the matted fur and leaned forward to whisper apologies. Once when the donkey groaned exceptionally loudly, she dropped an apple in front of him and asked the man to wait a moment, time for the donkey to devour the fruity treat.

They rested at night, but began again early the next morn. The walking continued for want felt like very many days and each day the donkey felt his rider get weaker and weaker. She clutched him especially tight when they travelled along the high mountain roads. On the eighth day of their journey (they rested on the seventh) the girl was so helplessly tired she shook and finally began to succumb to the pain - crying out softly in agony at times and needing to move every half hour, causing them to fall far behind the camels and houses-on-wheels. The donkey gave up wincing that day, for he knew the girl was in much greater troubles.

At last, just as the sun was sinking below the distant hills, they arrived at a town, but so crowded - with people and animals alike. They filled the water holders and the donkey was led with his girl to a long line of people who looked similar to the couple he travelled with. The girl left the donkey's back to stand, but she relied on his feet as much as she did her own. When they finally reached the line's end, a stall with some strange, different people, the man spoke softly and quickly, holding his girl protectively. He ushered her gently away at the stall-holder's flick of a wrist. And the donkey trudged behind, no matter that there was no tug at the rope.

Would the walking ever end? From house to house the donkey followed his lady, now so without strength that the man carried her like a child. Doors opened, doors closed, some even slammed in frustration, but they kept on. The donkey had literally walked the whole town when they found him a stable. He trotted in gladly, tasting the straw and lapping up the water. The donkey was surprised when he saw the man making a soft bed of fresh hay - and too small for a donkey.

Surely the man should attend to his lady! Little did the donkey know - he was. She lay on the hay in what the donkey knew was a world of pain, but instructed the man to leave. Reluctantly, he did.

Now all she had was a donkey by her side. Oh the poor lady, his poor lady, becoming a mess of water and blood. The donkey could do nothing, so he simply stopped his ravenous feasting to wait in patient respect.

But suddenly, after a long while, his lady stopped moaning and panting and she scrunched up her face and but her lip as the donkey watched a child slide from her knees. The lady cradled the tiny human, cleansing him from the mess before wrapping him. Then, at last, the man returned and looked on in awe at the new life the donkey had witnessed come to be.

The man strode over to the donkey's stall and tipped the slobbery straw from his food trough before dragging it out in front of his lady. Mopping the tray with a cloth, the man laid the manger with fresh hay and took the infant from his mother's arms. As he placed the boy in the manger, the donkey glimpsed the baby properly for the first time. As the donkey began to trod over, some sheep-carers arrived at the stable doorway. The man invited them in, and they crowded around the donkey's lady's baby.

A couple of sheep also intruded, and though they took no notice of the donkey, they baaaed excitedly amongst themselves. The donkey heard the words "king" and "Lord" and "promised" several times. Now filled with curiosity, the donkey nudged his way through the people to the baby boy.

What he saw was nothing unusual, just a human child, but the donkey knew he was nothing short of a miracle, a gift from God. From God. From God! The all powerful, mighty Ruler of all! This was Him! The donkey felt it. So he along with the sheep and their carers, bowed to the newborn king. Though he knew the humans would not know his meaning, the donkey eeee-ooorrred softly, saying "I promise to serve you all my life." The baby gurgled in his sleep, and the donkey knew he understood.