Once upon a time, near the town of Bethlehem, there lived a kind farmer named Franjo and his wife Anna.Their small home was made of mud and straw, where they lived with their animals—2 wise old oxen, 3 donkeys, two chickens, and two beautiful gentle sheep. On cold nights, Franjo would light a small fire to keep them warm, heating stones that glowed with cozy warmth.
During the day, Franjo tended to the animals and the very dry small piece of land trying to get some crops to grow while Anna worked hard spinning wool from the sheep to make beautiful cloaks and blankets to sell in town.
One bright day, as they journeyed to town with their goods, they met a young couple seeking shelter in Bethlehem. The couple looked tired and thirsty.
Franjo offered them water and some flat bread and guided them to the town, where they parted ways. Later, as night fell, the couple found themselves in need of a place to stay, but the inns were full. As Franjo and Ann were headed back home , they spotted the young couple and asked how things were.
The man told Franjo they have no place to sleep and wife is very pregnant.
Moved by their plight, Franjo sought help from a friend who offered them a stable behind the inn. The couple, Mary and Joseph, welcomed this refuge gratefully.
In the cold stable, Mary wrapped in a couple blankets gifted by Anna,
Franjo and Anna went outside to gather sticks and rocks to make a fire and heat the stones, so the couple was not freezing. They were gone for a short time when they returned.
Mary had gave birth to a baby boy. To everyone’s surprise, the donkeys in the stable began to speak , proclaiming the child to be called Jesus, is the son of God. In that divine moment, Anna found her voice miraculously restored, blessing her with the ability to speak once more.
Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, Franjo and Anna knelt in prayer, and Anna, overcome with emotion, welcomed the blessed child with her newfound voice. The donkeys blessed them for their kindness and instructed them to spread the news of the Lord’s arrival.
Filled with astonishment and faith, Franjo and Anna shared the miraculous story with their neighbors, and anyone who would hear it, spreading love and joy wherever they went. They were blessed abundantly, from their fields yielding plentiful harvests to receiving gifts of land from their neighbors. Every day, they sang songs of praise and worship, living their lives in the light of divine grace.
And so, the night the donkeys spoke became a tale of kindness, blessings, and the miraculous restoration of Anna’s voice, forever cherishing the wondrous events that unfolded in their humble stable.
Joyful-Echoes 