“Herald Hedgehog’s Christmas”

A herald is someone who announces something important – like when a king comes to town, or when an event of particular importance is about to happen. A herald often doesn’t really know what the big deal is all about, but he’s the one who is given the news to tell everyone else. Oftentimes angels are heralds - that’s why we sing, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” It’s about heralding angels. This story is about a herald – but he didn’t really know he would be a herald. It just happened. Herald was a little hedgehog, living out in the countryside, as most hedgehogs do; except that, unlike most hedgehogs we know, he lived a long, long time ago. And also, unlike most hedgehogs we know, he didn’t live in a hedge – there weren’t many hedges where he lived, but there were plenty of rock piles, and there was a small woods outside of Bethlehem where he often roamed during the night, in search of earthworms, and bugs, and pretty much anything else he could find to eat. Hedgehogs, you see, aren’t very picky eaters, except they can’t drink milk, and Herod didn’t very much like brussel sprouts, either. Do you? No, I didn’t think so!

The other place Herald liked to stay, especially when it was cold outside, was in a little cave outside Bethlehem, where sometimes people kept their animals. Often there were sheep there, when it was cold outside, which the sheep didn’t mind so much, with their woolly coats; but the shepherds would get cold, and would stay in the cave for shelter. Travelers would stable their horse or donkey there, when they were visiting in town, especially when the weather was bad. There was straw there, which made a nice bed for Herod. And there was usually food – grain and bugs, and sometimes scraps left by the shepherds. And, when animals were bedded there, the heat of their bodies made it cozy and warm on a cold night. 

Like most hedgehogs, Herald was rather shy. When people stayed in the little cave, he would slip in between a couple of rocks, and sit and watch them talk, and laugh, and sometimes sing. Once they went to sleep, he might come out to see whether they had left any food for him. The rest of the time, he was very quiet. In fact, if you asked him a question, the most you would ever get out of him was a grunt or two. It wasn’t that he was disagreeable. He just seldom had much to say on any subject at all.

One cold December night, he had been down in the woods looking for food. He had looked under a log, and in an old tree stump. He had looked along the stream bed, and dug through the leaves. He even turned over some rocks. But he hadn’t found much to eat. The wind, even with his warm coat, chilled him through and through, and drove the worms and bugs deep into hiding. He thought, “Well, maybe I’ll just go up to the cave. Maybe there will be a horse who will share some oats with me, or a couple of shepherds having some dinner.” The very idea of fresh oats, or a nice piece of bread, perhaps with a little fish, made his stomach make noises.

However, when he got to the cave, it was full of animals! There were two horses, a cow, and a little donkey, as well as a few birds that had come in looking for shelter. And there was a young woman, and an older man who was trying to comfort her, “It’s all right Mary,” he said. “It’s nice and warm in here and, at least here, we’ll have a little privacy.” But the young woman wept, “It’s my first baby! And you know what the angel said – this is to be God’s Son!” The man helped her to the ground. “Well, if it is to be God’s Son, then he is the Son of the One who created these animals as well. Perhaps God thinks it is fitting for his Son’s birth to be witnessed by some of the humbler members of his creation!” The young woman, Mary, didn’t seem to be listening, for, as Herald soon learned, she was too busy giving birth to a baby!

Herald scurried to his usual hiding place, and watched very intently what was happening. He saw the older man, whose name was Joseph, spread some hay on the ground, and put his robe on it, to make a bed for Mary, who was already getting ready to have her baby. He had seen animals give birth before – but never a human! It was not long before he heard a little cry, much like the cry of a baby lamb, and Joseph and Mary became much quieter. Mary wrapped the baby tightly in some of her own clothes, and nursed him for a while, then gave him to Joseph, who had dragged a wooden manger across the room, and put some hay in it. Then he laid the baby in the manger, and the two sat down, talking softly.

Herald had never seen a human baby, and wanted to get a closer look. But then he heard noises outside of the cave – the sound of men, and of sheep. They were shepherds, who entered the cave and, seeing the man and woman and the baby, started talking about seeing angels, and how they had told them to come to see this baby. They kneeled by the manger, looking at the baby and saying to one another: “God’s Son! The angels said it was so! God’s Son!” Then they suddenly got up, and bowed to Mary and Joseph, and told them, “You have blessed us. This is an amazing thing! No one has ever heard of such a thing!” They rushed outside, and were gone.

“Is this what happens when human babies are born?” Herald wondered. “Or is this some kind of special baby?” He really wanted to get closer to see the new child. Mary was now resting. “I couldn’t have imagined it would be like this,” she said. “Here we are, miles from home, having our first child – a child that should have been born in a palace!” Joseph comforted her, “Yes, but remember, Mary, all of the earth belongs to God. For God, this is as much of a palace as that of any king! The angels said that we should name him Jesus, because he will be the savior of all.” Then he lay down by his wife, and soon both were asleep.

What a strange night this was! Herald, watched, and listened as their breathing became heavy, and heard, too, sounds coming from the manger. Carefully he made his way to the manger. He worked his way up to where he could see the little baby. Its eyes were closed, and its face was red and wrinkled. It kept moving its mouth, making little sounds, and apparently was cold, because it occasionally shivered. “It is cold, just a bit,” Herald agreed, and then felt a bit strange having said that – talking to a baby. But the baby opened its eyes, as if he had heard, and understood him.

Herald soon found himself talking to him, telling him about his life, about his family, and how he had come here. It was quite an unusual thing for a hedgehog to do because – well, as I said – usually they are so very quiet. And usually, very little interested in talking. But this was different. This human baby was listening and seemed to understand him. Besides, if this was the Son of God, then this was certainly someone worth talking to!

That is pretty much how the night went. Herald found that he had much to say, indeed, to this little child, who listened into the wee hours of the morning, before falling asleep. It was only then that Herald stopped talking and, gazing upon this little baby, realized that he truly was something special.

In the morning, Joseph woke with a start. The air was frosty cold! He realized that he and Mary were so tired last night, they fell asleep without covering the baby! Certainly, Jesus must have frozen overnight! How could he have been so careless! He rushed to see if the baby was all right. Then he stopped, and looked at the manger in amazement. Quietly, he woke Mary, and brought her to see. For there, like a warm, furry blanket, was Herald, curled up against the baby, and both of them, fast asleep!

“See,” Joseph whispered to Mary. “A king may have a royal robe, made of velvet or finest silk. But whoever heard of such a robe as this – the robe of a royal hedgehog! God watches over those who love him, and those who love him, each worship him in their own way. God rejoices in the gift of every creature, no matter whether they be a king or shepherd – and even a hedgehog gives comfort and joy to the king of kings!” So it was, for certainly, there seemed to be a smile on the baby Jesus’ face.