The Christmas Geese

KEY STAGES 2, 3 &4

There was a farmer who lived with his family in the Scottish Highlands.

One Christmas when his his wife and son were leaving the house to attend Christmas, he laughed at them, as usual, for believing such nonsense!

“How could God possibly become human and come to live in the form of a baby at Bethlehem. Why would he lower himself to become like us? It’s all nonsense!” His wife and son took no notice, and off they went.

The air was cold, and later it began to snow very heavily.

All of a sudden there was a very loud thump on his roof, then he heard more in his yard. He was alarmed!

Then he realised what it was that was causing the awful noise.

A flock of geese that had been flying low over his house had become very confused by the snowstorm

Stranded and unable to fly on, they couldn’t see where they were going, and they were slowly freezing in the icy air.

Then the farmer sprang into action; he wanted desperately to save them all.

He put on his coat and ran outside to open the barn door!

He opened doors and beckoned them in.

He tried to get round behind them and shoo them in.

He even ran into the kitchen and got some bread to leave a trail into the barn.

Each time he tried something new, they flapped their wings and fluttered away from him.

Frustrated he yelled out,

‘Why don’t they follow me?

Can’t they see that this is the only place where they can survive the storm? How can I possibly get them to follow me?

How can I possibly save them?

The only way would for me to become a goose! If only I could be one of them, I could save them.

They would follow me in, and I could lead them all to safety!

Suddenly he realised what he had said,

IF ONLY I COULD BECOME LIKE ONE OF THEM I COULD SAVE THEM!

Then at last he understood God’s plan for the world.

He fell on his knees in the snow and worshipped God.

This is what Christians call THE INCARNATION.

Reading John 1. 1-14