Now, let’s see. Where did I leave off,
last? How often will I have to post to get this done by Christmas? Okay, okay,
I’ll step out of the picture so you can immerse yourself into the First
Christmas Story.
21st Chisleu
December 6th
First
light, if you can call it that, I heard a wind come up during the night, and by
morning the clouds had
blotted out the sun. The Geshem, (latter rains) descended upon us with a vengeance, we were miserable even before Balaam’s
saddlebags
were properly repacked. Yosef and I donned our thick woolen cloaks,
but it was impossible for me to hang on to the
donkey’s reins without
rain trickling up my sleeves. That was so
uncomfortable.
We slogged along silently, going uphill
most of the way, or so seemed. I noticed that our fellow travelers were not
calling out to each other so exuberantly, anymore.
The clouds still look thick and dark towards our destination, the hills.
21st Chisleu
December 7th
Apparently
our Matriarch,
Rachael, wife of Yaakov, passed
away this season of the year. I surely hope it wasn’t as miserable a day
as this.! It is already the middle of
the day, not that you can tell by the sky, and
we have stopped
for a short break. Poor Balaam’s
head is hanging down. He looks pathetic.
The rain is streaming in rivulets down his shaggy mane and his back.
Care for some soggy flat bread? I think
I’ll stick with dried fruit
for this repast. I’m already looking forward to
nightfall so we can huddle
back under the shelter of these goat skin tents once more. I know that there won’t be any camp fires tonight. The others are
moving around, preparing
to start traveling again, so I must tuck this parchment in the
safest, driest place I can think of, which is inside
the folds of my belt under my heavy woolen cloak.
I am so chilled. Hope I don’t get the
sniffles. Abigail is quite ill with
a fever.
22nd Chisleu
December 6th
Yes, there had been more rain today, but I am not
complaining because it eased off towards late
afternoon. Just as the red
and gold of sunset covered the sky, I saw a very
distinct rainbow! . What
an exceedingly rare and glorious sight! My heart
lifted up to El’
Elyon
in praise and gratitude for His wondrous works. What made it even more of a blessing is
that since Shabbat, started
at sunset, today, we
were able to rest, worship, and fellowship without getting soaked.
24 Chisleu
December 8th
This has been a very, very hard day. I am almost too
weary to write,
but must because such memorable things are happening.
My body has
been so wracked with pain. I’ve clung to the poor
donkey’s neck, and
let my veil conceal my face so Yosef would not see how difficult it
has been for me. Not that I fooled him for one
moment. He
is so anxious, and keeps asking whether or not we should press on faster to reach Bethlehem’s khan, (inn), by nightfall, or should
he let me rest more often?.
As it is, many have tramped on ahead. We are
left behind with the roving wild animals, the geshem, (heavy rain), and perhaps even bandits for
company. But I do not need to think of that. My
emotions are fragile
for many reasons, yet, somehow I still know that Adonai,
hallowed be His Name, will care for His own
beloved Son.
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