Another Christmas Tale: Inside the Stable Installment three

Bert sauntered back in and stared at all the activity with a look of disbelief.

“GREAT!” he yelled sarcastically “she’s calving!”

“Bert,” Mabel scolded softly “they don’t call it that – they call it giving birth.”

Bert’s volume just increased, “well call it what you want but she’s gonna’ be producing another smelly human – and the little kind are really smelly – and they scream!”

The commotion woke up Irma. When she realized what was happening, she went into her typical panic.

“A baby?! Do something, Mabel! Boil water! Do something!”

“They’re taking over the whole place!” Bert interjected amid Irma’s cackling, “The next thing you know, she’ll be putting curtains on the windows!” and with that he stomped out again.

The struggle went on for some time, Mabel remembered something of the times that she had given birth and felt what might be called compassion for the woman. Meanwhile Irma intermittently slept and awoke in a tizzy only to wear her self out with excitement then go back to sleep. And all through the ordeal, Mabel stared with that same unaffected gaze.

The man helped as much as he could and finally the Child was born.

Mabel called softly to Irma –“He’s here – it’s a male Child.”

Irma again went into action, fluttering about all over the little stable.

Now animals have been given what is called “instincts” by their Creator. These are fundamental abilities that just come natural. A fish, for instance, does not have to be taught to swim; he just does. A dog is not taught to crave meat, he just does.

There was something in Mabel’s instinctive nature that triggered a rare response from her.

She watched in characteristic fashion as the man gently wrapped the newborn in some of the soft cloths he had collected earlier. When she saw the face of the Child – she knew, instinctively – that it was the face of her Creator! Though she had never seen her Creator, something inside her told her – this was Him.

And for a brief moment, Mabel’s lower jaw stopped its constant chewing motion and her eyes – widened. For Mabel, this was a notable response.