The Saturday Journal: Is this all true? Is it?
- tathelmillerwriter
- Dec 6
- 4 min read
It's December...already.
And November felt like time ticking down on a microwave--a wind that appeared for a brief moment and gone. I remember my Grandpa saying, 'time speeds up as you grow older'. And my uncle saying in one of his Sunday School lessons, 'Soon a minute--a second won't be enough for us. We'll want things even faster and--what he said, was long before the days of prime and Amazon.
December is here and with it comes the rush of the season. Do this. Do that. Go here. Go there. It's as if we have stepped back in time to Bethlehem and the busyness of the small town and where the duty and race of paying their taxes on time consumed their actions and their very thoughts.
And just outside those closed doors and covered windows--closed minds--a miracle was happening--in Bethlehem. A baby boy was coming to a young mother--a virgin and her soon to-be husband was standing near--he never left her side. This baby boy was not just a gift to them--but a gift to the world--for each of us.
And there were the shepherds--the cold ground as their bed--rocks for their pillows--their sheep gathered close. The sky as their ceiling and when the stars gave way to the angels--the sound of their wings sang out--praise, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)
The Bible says, the shepherds after receiving the message--they left in haste to see the miracle of this baby sent from heaven. Did they leave the sheep behind or did they take them on the journey? Either way--it didn't or it doesn't matter. It matters they went. The shepherds, they went--it was a decision they made on their own--responding to an invitation just for them.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:15)
Did these shepherds--did they know--had they been told a child would be born to a virgin? Did they know about the words of the prophet, Isaiah, words given to him by God Himself.
These shepherds, what people perceived as lowly and poor misfits--the Creator of all being sent His host of angels with a special message--go meet my Son. Go and see my Baby Boy.
And the shepherds, they were a lonely bunch--keeping to themselves--watching the sheep. And perhaps, this cause--maybe they weren't a vocal bunch.
However...
After meeting the baby Jesus--God's Son--they began telling the good news--the Bible uses the word, "Abroad". And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. (Luke 2:17)
Were the townspeople like, 'What's come over those crazy shepherds? Glorifying and Praising God? A baby in an animal trough? Angels in the sky?
The shepherd's story reminds me of the story of the Woman at the Well--the Samaritan Woman--she went to the well in the heat of the day just so she wouldn't have to talk to anyone--and Jesus, He was waiting on her--He found her--like He did the shepherds.
And after meeting Jesus, she couldn't keep silent. She rushed into the town--'Come, see a man (John 4:29) And many believed because of her belief. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. (John 4:29)
I wonder, among the people in Bethlehem--did they have even the tiniest thought of wonder in their hearts--did they listen to the shepherds--did they themselves seek out the Christ child? Did they rush to the temple--ask to see the Holy Scroll--the words of Isaiah?
Is this all true?
On this winter morning, there's a lone dove sitting high on the tree branch --the other birds are flittering about at the feeder. The dove, he looks like a male because of his size--and he sits there--resting--content on this one branch.
A few hours later I look out again and he's still there--his tiny perching feet wrapped around this same branch. What is he doing? Has he been there this whole time--just watching and waiting?
And the next morning I looked out the same window and there on the same branch--a smaller dove--this time a female. She's perched in the same direction--looking out over the frosted rooftops. I watch for a few more minutes and she dives down into the grass and lands beside an even smaller dove--possibly her baby and they move toward the feeders together--eating the dropped seeds from the other birds. They eat for the longest time, it seems.
Is this all true?
Is it?
A baby born to a virgin--lying in a manger--dressed in rags?
The Christ child, Jesus?
Is this all true?
Is it?
It is.
Every word is true.
I see Him every day.
And the dove, she flies back to the branch--her place of refuge and protection--a place where she feels seen. And loved.
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse; and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
Isaiah 11:1
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
I appreciate each of you more than you will ever know and I pray, the stories shared in this
space will encourage and bless you in some small way.
If you would like to have The Saturday Journal come to your email box,
please subscribe to the blog and newsletter at
All photos @copyright Tathel Miller, unless otherwise credited to another photographer.
Soli Deo Gloria
My latest book, The Saturday Journal: Stories of Faith, Family, Farming, and Community is back from the printer! And as always, I'm humbled to see my stories in print--however this one is--extra special. I don't really have the words--other than to say anytime I am given the privilege and blessing to sit down and talk with someone and then share their story-- it's a great honor. And different from my other books, this one includes three stories written by family and friends. If you would like a copy,($15.00 plus $3.00 for shipping) you can order through the link https://www.tathelmiller.com/product-page/the-saturday-journal-stories-of-faith-family-farming-and-community or send me an email at tathelmillerwriter@gmail.com.
Comments