Cultural
Background
Storyteller's Cabin
When they entered Bethlehem, Frederick had never seen so many people. The barn was filled with well wishers and gift givers and a long line of folk outside waiting to get in.
Frederick was almost broken hearted. He didn't see how they would ever get in to see baby Jesus. What Frederick forgot was that his daddy was the chief of all the shepherds. When the folks saw Sylvester, they all called out, "Come on Sylvester! Bring your boy and come on in the barn.
When they got inside the barn, Frederick climbed up on a high pile of hay so he could see over everybody. Frederick couldn't believe what he saw. There was baby Jesus, sleeping peacefully in a horse's feeding trough, with some fresh hay under him for a mattress.
"Oh, wow!" he thought. "I remember Mama saying that once when I was a baby, I slept a few nights in a wooden box that was used to feed the sheep, just like baby Jesus! What an exciting day! I'm in town for the first time and I'm seeing the baby son of God. Wow!"
Then Frederick noticed that the whole barn, full of people, had gotten quiet. Frederick turned and looked toward the door. People were moving aside, and in walked three men in beautiful, flowing robes. Frederick looked at their clothes and remembered the stories his Mama had told him all about the Kings and how they dressed. He never thought he'd ever see a King. Those three men had on fancy King clothes for sure. What a day! First time to go to town, first time to see so many people. A chance to see baby Jesus and now three Kings. Oh, what an adventure!
Frederick watched as the Kings went over to baby Jesus. The first King, whose voice was commanding and deep said, "I bring a gift of gold to the Christ child, the symbol of a King."
Frederick thought, "Now hold on there, King. That's a foolish gift to give a little baby. What's a baby going to do with money?"
The second King stepped up and with that same kind of King voice said, "I bring the gift of Myrrh, the symbol of the healer, for the Christ child."
Frederick thought, "Uh, oh. That king's not so smart, either. Mama cooks sometimes with Myrrh. What does that King think a baby is going to do with a bitter herb like Myrrh?"
Then the third King said, "I bring the gift of Frankincense, symbol of the priest, to the Christ child."
"Frankincense?" thought Frederick. "That's incense, and that stuff stinks! Kings may dress fancy, but they sure don't have much gift giving judgment. The only time I've ever smelled Frankincense was when it was burned at funerals - and he gives that stuff to a baby?"
Frederick sadly shook his head and thought how silly Kings were, as he watched the other gifts being given. Nothing for a baby. Then he saw his daddy Sylvester stand up, walk over to where baby Jesus was sleeping, and lay down his huge shepherd's staff as a gift to baby Jesus. That's when Frederick realized that sometimes grown ups do silly things. They just don't have the sense they were born with. Did you ever notice that?
As Frederick thought about all the foolish baby gifts, he suddenly remembered that, under his cloak, he had the perfect gift for a newborn baby.
No, uh-uh, no way. He sure didn't want to give up his Willie! Frederick even looked out of the barn window and watched a small flock of birds perching on a tree, trying to erase the thought from his mind. It didn't do any good. All Frederick could think about was how baby Jesus was born in this old barn, dug into the side of the hill, dirty and smelly and everybody giving him gifts that he couldn't use. Frederick knew that if baby Jesus was going to receive a gift that a baby could use, he was going to have to be the one to do it.
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