Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Precious (11/14/24)
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TITLE: More Precious than Yaqqir | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lynae Fisher
11/19/24 -
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The lamb bleated.
Sarah took the little lamb tenderly from her brother and caressed it in her arms. “Is she OK? That dog didn’t hurt my little Yaqqir, did he?” She drooped her head to gaze at the helpless thing in her arms.
“I don’t think she’s hurt. That was close, though. It had her in its mouth.”
“My poor, little Yaqqir, you’re safe now.”
The little lamb only looked up into her face silently, its floppy ears hanging back as it raised its little pink nose towards hers.
Carrying the lamb towards the roaring fire, she knelt down. A nervous mother ewe bleated as it smelled its lamb nearby. The lamb bleated back.
Sarah comforted, “Your baby is right here.” Slowly, she let down the lamb and placed it on its feet before its mother.
The mother sniffed and nuzzled its little one. The two bleated to one another in joy. Soon they snuggled down near the fire. Mother sheep with her back to the fire and her face towards the open space, had her little one melted up against her back. Little Yaqqir laid her head against her mother’s back.
“They are so sweet,” Sarah cooed.
“They are a cute pair,” agreed her brother.
“What could be more precious?”
The lamb looked up, hearing its name*.
Stars sparkled in the clear, night sky. The fire crackled as the sheep slept. Sarah’s head began to nod with sleep. Soon, she found herself following Yaqqir’s example, using the mother ewe for a pillow. She made a nice, fluffy pillow, if one did not mind the smell.
Suddenly, she was awakened with a start. The sky was lit up brighter than day. A creature shining brighter than the sun flew above them. Surely, it must be an angel. She had heard of them, but never seen them with her own eyes. She trembled in fear.
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
No sooner had the angel finished its speech than a whole host of other angels praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”
As suddenly as they had come, the angels disappeared. The shepherds were dumbfounded. Sarah looked at her brother. At last, he was able to speak.
“Let’s go.” Josiah’s voice sounded a bit choked.
Yaqqir bleated, looking up at Sarah. Sarah scooped up the lamb and took off running with her brother. The mother sheep followed close on their heels.
“Where did they say?” Sarah panted as they neared Bethlehem.
“They just said He was in a manger.”
Yaqqir bleated. Her mother turned, and headed for one of the cave shelters the shepherds used, bleating as she went.
Brother and sister looked at each other, then followed the sheep. They stopped outside to catch their breath before entering the presence of the Holy Promised One. There lying in the hay in the manger was the Son of David, the promised Messiah. Mary looked up at them. They gazed in silent awe. Never in their wildest dreams had they ever dreamed they would see this day.
“Welcome, shepherds,” Joseph gently whispered.
They dropped to their knees beside the manger. The mother sheep lowered her head and slowly crept closer towards the manger. Joseph offered his hand to pet the sheep. She nuzzled her head into his hand, stealing glances at the baby.
Yaqqir reached her little head out from Sarah’s arms to see the baby. The baby reached its tiny hands towards the lamb’s face and laughed. Tiny hands touched tiny face. A little lamb met The Lamb of God.
“We should tell others,” Josiah said, at last finding his voice.
Sarah smiled at the scene before her. “Yes, let’s go.”
The shepherds arose to share the good news.
As they left the cave, Sarah looked down at Yaqqir. “Sorry, Yaqqir, looks like you take second place.”
(Based on Luke 2)
* יַקִּיר yaqqir: yak-keer’ adj. very precious, dear. (Hebrew)
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