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Why Do You Cry?

by Lance O. Redding

The boy stood, gazing at the large full moon.  Held fast, he couldn’t seem to pull away, nor did he want to.  Its glowing light pierced through the thick darkness and touched upon the newly formed dew; sparkling.   “Tears,” he thought, “as if the earth is crying.”  His heart was touched.  “Why?” he wondered, forming the word in his mouth.  Bending down, he touched one of the sparkling drops, letting the cool water trickle down his arm.

“Why do you cry, my friend?”

In the distance, a baby lamb called for it’s mother, distracting the shepherd from his thoughts.  Seeing that nothing was amiss, he sat down, his gaze caught again by the majestically glowing sphere.  As sleep overtook his tired body, his gaze was held fast by the soothing glow.  His eyes closed, and he forced them open.  But he soon lost the strength to do even that.

The dew-touched grass gently welcomed the weary shepherd, lulling him into a deep sleep; for the earth wanted to answer his question, why had its tears been shed?

The dream began in a dimly lit room, the smell of animals strong in the air.  Reaching his arms out, he found a wall and followed its rough stony surface.  Slowly, the light grew brighter as he inched his way along.  Hearing a shuffle in the hay he stopped, not sure if he should press on.  But the light, like that of the moon, tugged on his mind, pulled at his heart and led him forward.

Wondering why a light would be in a stable, he heard a baby cry out.  A simple, soft cry for a mother’s warmth and love.  A human babe.  Surprised, he could hold back his curiosity no more.  Cautiously, he peeked around the corner, and saw – a new born babe, in his mother’s arms, his father standing by.  The babe smiled, and a tear formed in the shepherd’s eye.

“Why are you crying?” asked the earth of the shepherd.  But he couldn’t answer, his heart too full of emotion.  “I too,” said the earth, “cry for joy tonight.  For tonight, our King is born!”

Awakened by the soft breeze, he saw the tears fall from his face, adding themselves to those of the earth.  Each falling tear gleamed with light, this time much brighter than before.  Startled, he looked again to the ruler of the night sky, whose light was lost in that of a glorious, new star.