This is the conclusion to my Fanciful Fox Fable. I hope you or your children or grandchildren have enjoyed the story of Buz who went to Bethlehem and was changed forever by the Baby in the manger.
The little foot snuggled into the fur on Buz’s chest and stopped wriggling.
“Look, he’s asleep,” someone said.
“He’s warm and comfortable,” said someone else.
But no one noticed little Buz, hidden in the shadows. At last, when Buz realized dawn was not far away, he slipped down from the manger and out of the stable. He wanted to hurry and tell his brothers what had happened. This news was too amazing to be kept secret.
The sun was just beginning to top the eastern hills when Buz came to the door of the cave he called home.
“Wake up!” he shouted. “I’ve got good news!”
“Go away,” a fox growled from inside the cave. “I thought you were gone for good.”
“No, no. You must hear what I saw tonight!” Buz answered.
“Did you bring us something to eat?” another fox jeered. “If you did, you probably put hot peppers in it. Go find somebody else to fool.”
Buz hung his head. For some reason, he felt ashamed of his past misdeeds.
“I’m sorry for all the mean tricks,” he said.
This caused his brothers to open their eyes and look at him.
“You’re sorry? Are you the same little brother who used to make our lives miserable?”
“Actually, you are the ones who made my life miserable but I should not have been mean even though you were. I saw a most amazing sight tonight and I’ve got to share the good news,” Buz said.
The oldest brother looked closely at Buz and walked all the way around him. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
“Buz, is it actually you?” he cried. “You sound like our little brother but, why, you are a handsome fellow. Your tail…I’ve never seen one so bushy and beautiful and look at the white fur on your chest. It almost glistens.”
All the brothers gathered around Buz, reaching out to touch him, oohing and ahing and whispering about his magnificent coat.
Buz scratched his head. “Do I really look different?” he asked.
“About as different as midnight from noonday,” said one.
“We’re ready to listen,” said the oldest brother.
The foxes all sat in a circle around Buz while he told them the incredible story about a Baby in a manger.
Do you know the really miraculous thing about Buz? Although he looked handsome and regal on the outside, it was the heart of Buz that had changed the most. No longer did he want to play mean tricks. No longer did he feel small and unworthy. He felt happy and whole. He had warmed the foot of that wondrous Child and the Baby had smiled at him, at him a lowly and lonely small fox.
Buz knew from now on, because of that one tiny Child lying in the hay on a night when the heavens sang, he was a different and better fox, from the inside out.
Sweet!
Thank you!