I love animals. Baxter and I grew up on farms. After my grandfather passed away, the saddest thing was selling off what remained of the livestock. There were no pigs. The chickens slowly went away. It was so sad until my Dad bought 4 cows to start a new herd. Instead of milk cows, he purchased beef cattle. Once again there was livestock to care for. I loved it.

There is just something about caring for animals. I can’t really explain it. I tell Baxter I just feel like who I really am when I garden and have animals. And this brings us to the donkey.

I have asked and asked to go visit the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. Something always took the opportunity. But this fall, we went. It was wonderful. Before coming home, we also visited a Shaker village in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

I love their architecture…the food… and their gardening. While we were in the livestock area, Baxter met the donkey. He was a Jerusalem Cross donkey. So very sweet. We both were in love. Before I got back to NC, Baxter had gotten one.

Donkeys symbolized peace and humility. Mary humbly rode a donkey to Nazareth.. Likewise, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Messiah is called the “prince of Peace” in Isaiah. (Isaiah 9:6) It seems appropriate for Jesus to enter Jerusalem this way. (Matthew 21:1-7)

There is a legend in Christendom about the donkey Jesus rode that day. The legend says the little donkey followed Jesus to the place of Crucifixion. As Jesus suffered and died, the little donkey could not bear to watch. He turned away from the cross. When he turned, the shadow of the cross fell on his back. Legend says God allowed the cross to stay on the donkey’s back to honor the donkey’s love for the Savior.

It is, of course, legend. Like the legend of the dogwood.

Sharing my thoughts, my experiences, the ways I watch for Abba God to show up are almost all tied to this beautiful Creation He has placed us in. I see Him in the black night sky filled with stars. The marvel of new life a seed contains. The sunrise every morning. And the creatures He has filled the earth with. All these things remind me of His greatness. For me, scripture is His love letter to us and His Creation Is my visual classroom.

So this Christmas season, remember the little donkey. The next time you see one…look for the cross…doesn’t matter how it got there…it can remind you of the Messiah.