The Gift of Bethlehem

Author's Note: This is the second sequel to Staircase of Stars with The Celestial Church being the first sequel.
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Nighttime and I fall into a deep slumber.

I am not merely dreaming, I am ascending once again up the staircase of stars. Looking around at the cosmos has become a familiar, but also continuous joyful sight. Once at the top, I look towards the celestial church and smile. The same simple shape that I saw before, but I suspect that it has also taken on a grander look at times. Suddenly, I feel beckoned to enter the church and head towards the steps.

As I enter the sanctuary, I see Jesus standing before the altar. Simply dressed, but shining in all of his glory as he prays. I walk quietly towards the front pew and take a seat. I decide to pray along with him, closing my eyes.

“Hello my child” His voice, gentle yet powerful, resonates within me.

I smile, my heart filled with warmth as I hear and feel him speaking to me. “Greetings, Lord”

Suddenly, I feel myself being pulled across time and space. Where I am going, I am not sure, but I put my faith in Jesus as I know that he is the one guiding me.



I arrive somewhere in the past, but unsure of the exact era. Surrounded by the murmur of conversation, I realized I couldn’t comprehend the language. Yet, strangely, I understood the words being spoken—it was Hebrew. I realize now where I am as I overheard someone discussing a couple who had recently arrived in town. Due to the inn being full, they were forced seek shelter in a stable.

“Bethlehem” I whispered and then felt an unseen hand guiding through the streets until came upon the stable.

There….I am stood at the door that led into the stables, I saw a wondrous sight.

A man stands watchfully near a manger as a woman kneels, gazing with awe and love at the child within it. Shepherds arrive, their humble reverence filling the space as they kneel. Later, richly dressed men enter, bearing chests of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As I stood there for a moment more, I felt something beckoning me to enter the stable and so I did. I walked up to the manger and there in the manager, laid Jesus. I smiled as I looked at him. This little baby that God sent to Earth….to walk with us, to teach us….to save us. I realize that this is why I was brought across time and space. To see this moment that I’ve read about so many times and have seen art that depicts this very moment.

“Beautiful, isn’t he?”

I smile at this sound of this voice. “Yes, he is” I replied.

I turned and saw that it was my love. No mystery that he too, was brought across time and space to see this moment. However, I quickly realized that he and I were both meant to see this moment. I turned back and looked at our Savior as he laid there, peacefully. Just then, I cried.

“We didn’t deserve him and yet God allowed him to be here” I said as tears fell from my eyes.

My love put his arms around me. “Indeed he did. And later, the son of God would die for us. Wearing a crown of thorns that we placed on his head because of our sins”.

Then, as gently as we arrived, we are drawn back across time and space, returning to the celestial church. There Jesus stood and smiled at us.

“My gift to the both of you. Hold it close to your hearts” he said.

“Thank you, Lord,” we say together, our voices joined.

He nods, His gaze full of love. Rising from the pew, we leave the sanctuary hand in hand.

Outside, under the starlit cosmos, we stand in silence. My love takes my hand, and I turn to him with a smile.

“Something else we’ve shared,” I say.

“Yes,” he replies, his voice soft with emotion. “And I pray we’ll share many more moments like this.”



I awake from my dream. Sitting up, I let the memory of the dream wash over me as the sunlight shines into my room. I smiled and then say this…..

“Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the many gifts You have given us. Among them, Your son, Jesus Christ. And to the Son, thank You for all You do in the name of the Father. Amen.”