The Friendly Beasts || 12.31.2022

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you here in church with us or watching with us online. Today I have a fun message for you! This is a message that you get to be a part of. Turn to page 227 in your hymnal and let’s learn about the Friendly beasts.

1. Jesus, our brother, strong and good,
was humbly born in a stable rude,
and the friendly beasts around him stood,
Jesus, our brother, strong and good.

2. “I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
“I carried his mother up hill and down,
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town;
I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

3. “I,” said the cow, all white and red,
“I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him hay to pillow his head;
“I,” said the cow, all white and red.

4. “I,” said the sheep with curly horn,
“I gave him my wool for his blanket warm,
he wore my coat on Christmas morn;
I,” said the sheep with curly horn.

5. “I,” said the dove, from the rafters high,
“I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry,
we cooed him to sleep, my mate and I;
“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.

6. Thus all the beasts, by some good spell,
in the stable dark were glad to tell
of the gifts they gave Emmanuel,
the gifts they gave Emmanuel.

I have a question for you though, one that we will share answers with like we’re in Sunday School. There are no right or wrong answers, and even the people at home can participate in this by typing your answer in the chat. What did you notice about the animals mentioned in this reading?

*Have conversation*

Each animal came as they are and gave what they had. The donkey carried Mary to Bethlehem. This is what donkeys did back during this time. They were often used to cart the wagons arounds. The cow gave of what he had. They gave their home and their food for this family. They sheep provided their own goods. They doves used their talents to help out. They didn’t act like each other. They didn’t compare what they did with each other. They didn’t try to make up for animals that weren’t there. Each animal came as they are and gave what they had.

That’s what God invites us to do. God invites to come as we are. God invites us to give what we can. God doesn’t invite to come as your friends are. God doesn’t invite you to come comparing yourself to others. God doesn’t invite us to give more than what we have. The animals were happy to share in their possessions, their resources, their time, and their talents. These are creatures that we may see in our lives and think of how much they DON’T give instead of what they do provide.

We’re approaching 2023 in tomorrow. The new year often means new beginnings, setting resolutions, changing or remove habits, etc. I wonder what 2023 would like if we came as we are that year. I wonder what would happen if we brought those things, we still battle with into 2023. I’m not saying to bring the closed doors or the baggage that you’ve unpacked, but what I’m saying is to not leave those unresolved issues in 2022 and think that you can just magically get rid of things. It’s coming into the new year as you are, flaws and all, and learn about who you are. I wonder what would happen if you worked on doing what you can for others without draining yourself, gave what you can without putting yourself in a hard spot, and more. What would 2023 look like if that was the mindset? God invites us to come as we are and give what we can. We come with the glory of God shining upon us and give with the blessing God showing through us. Think about what you want your 2023 to look like. It can even look like what these friendly beasts showed us. Amen.