Beauty and the Lamb A Christmas Story

by Kathy Benedetto

Now living in the fields outside of Bethlehem were shepherds keeping watch over their flock of sheep. Not only was the pasture the place of their job, but it was also their home. Sheep herders, because of their constant contact with the herd, were considered impure. They smelled of the sheep, their manure, their blood, their bodies covered with cuts and scrapes attracting insects to buzz about them. They were never considered clean enough to worship in the temple with God’s people.

One of the shepherd’s sons named Ruben longed for a life in town. He desired a job that would grant him entrance into the temple and to build with his hands something lasting such as wooden cabinets or furniture. Making him important and not shunned by the crowds.

Ruben had a lamb named Simon given to him by his father. Simon was a very attractive, playful lamb. He loved to kick up his back hooves as if challenging the other lambs to chase him. His curiosity often beckoned him into dangerous situations and had to have Ruben rescue him. Simon gave much joy to Ruben and made his lot of being a shepherd tolerable.

One night a strange, miraculous event occurred. As the shepherds sat near the campfires telling stories and the flock lay contently in the field nearby a man with an amazing light shining from him appeared in front of them. Ruben sat frozen. “He must be an angel,” Ruben’s father breathed as a whisper.

Soon the angel spoke, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” Just as the shepherds were eased in their fears suddenly the sky was filled with heavenly hosts praising God singing “Glory to God in the highest.” After the angels left, the men decided to go and find this babe. Deciding to leave the lambs behind because they might get lost in the darkness of night. So, Ruben was put in charge of the lambs, and they left.

Ruben was overcome with this unfairness. The opportunity to go into town and see the most significant event of his life had been denied to him. Ruben obeyed his father with clenched fists and tightness in his heart.

Simon knew Ruben was upset and he went over to nudge him, but Ruben was too drowned in his self-pity to notice. Simon backed away and considered what to do. He had never seen his owner so unbalanced. He walked into the darkness of the field to think. He must do something.

Meanwhile, Ruben, busy with his task, did not notice that Simon was gone.

When the men returned, Ruben’s father asked him, “Where is Simon?”

Panicked, Ruben realized his lamb was gone. “Father, I must go and find him.”

Ruben found Simon in a field about a mile down the road with a blue butterfly on his nose. When Simon saw Ruben, he ran towards him with the butterfly still holding on. “Simon, why did you leave? The wolves could have attacked you.” Simon just kicked up his hooves and danced round Ruben.

“He was always safe. I guarded him,” said the butterfly.

Landing on Ruben’s shoulder. “We have been waiting for you.”

Ruben shook his head in disbelief. Butterflies don’t talk…

“I have a message for you,” said the butterfly.

“What? My father and his friends had angels singing, and I just get a butterfly?”

Fluttering closer to face him, “I am titled Beauty, and I am not just a butterfly but an entrusted courier. My wings are transparent blue to signify the truth I bear.” Pausing, allowing Ruben to inspect him. “Come. You’ve much to learn,” and he flew off. Simon followed almost prancing. Ruben ran to catch up.

Beauty waited on a tree outside a stable, then flew inside as Ruben, out of breath, approached. Walking in Ruben saw a manger with a child wrapped in swaddling clothes in it, and the butterfly resting on its wooden handle.

“This is the promised Savior of which the angels sang,” said Beauty.

Ruben touched the manger’s rail, and it wobbled. Looking down he noticed that a piece of the base support had fallen off. He looked around and found a hammer and the old nails that had fallen loose and began fixing it. The noise woke up the man sleeping in the hay who came over to him. He smiled.

“Thank you, Son.” Kneeling to examine it closely, he stood back up and said, “You understand the basics of carpentry. I am Joseph, a carpenter from Nazareth, in town for the Roman census. My extended family lives in Bethlehem. All of them carpenters. They have a workshop in town, and I plan to join them as soon as I can locate them from among the crowds. My wife just had a baby and is not yet ready to travel. I will be needing an apprentice. Do you think your father would let you join us?”

“My father was one of the shepherds led here earlier tonight by the angels.”

“Yes, the shepherds. Chosen to spread the good news. A special honor and blessing to us.”

“I will bring him back so you can discuss this with him. But, yes, carpentry is the very desire of my heart.” Ruben thought how wonderful it would be to be important and not an outcast forsaken in the fields.

As they walked back Beauty said, “Ruben, you know your name but not your identity…your significance.”

“Your lamb seems ordinary, but to God he has an extraordinary task. He was brought here tonight along with your father and the other shepherds to serve as an imminent symbol. That babe is the future Messiah, who will someday choose to be known as the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” A hidden potential yet to be revealed.

“What you desire, to be a carpenter, is good. Why you want it reveals your struggle. Who do you believe yourself to be? Only a shepherd or a son? Part of a family or just part of the crowd.” Beauty flew in front of Ruben’s face. “Is it important to you that you are first a child of God with a given purpose, or do you only see yourself as just evolving into whatever holds your attention?” Landing on his shoulder, speaking into his ear, “Ruben, your significance is found in what you value most, and your identity is revealed in your response.”

Beauty flew off leaving Ruben with much to think about.