Keeping Sheep

The First Noel

Did you know that “noel” means Christmas?  

And on the first Christmas day, the angels spoke to shepherds “in fields as they lay…keeping their sheep.”

The first Noel, the angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel – born is the king of Israel.

I don’t know about the accuracy of the season of the year when Jesus was born, but I like this carol because it says the poor shepherds heard the good news while they were just doing what they did all the time - tend sheep.

Jesus comes to us where we are. We don’t have to run across the country to find him, seek him in high places, or obtain self-worth in order to be seen by him.

He appears to us and leads us, while we’re living and being.

The King of Kings loves us, and his light still shines for us, showing us the way.  All we have to do is follow the light.