Once, a long time ago, in a town called Nazareth, there was a young woman named Mary. She was kind and good, and she loved God very much. One day, something amazing happened to Mary! An angel named Gabriel came to visit her. Gabriel had a very special message from God. He told Mary, "You are going to have a baby, and he will be a very special baby. He will be the Son of God, and you will name him Jesus."
Mary was surprised and a little scared, but she trusted God. She said, “I am ready to do whatever God wants!”
Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph, who was a good and caring man. An angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him about the special baby Mary would have. Joseph trusted God, too, so he promised to take care of Mary and baby Jesus.
Soon, Mary and Joseph had to travel to a town called Bethlehem, far from where they lived. They needed to go there because the king wanted to count all the people, and Joseph’s family was from Bethlehem. It was a long journey, and when they finally arrived, Bethlehem was so crowded! There were people everywhere, and all the inns – like little hotels – were full.
Since there was nowhere else to stay, Mary and Joseph found a quiet stable where animals like donkeys and sheep were kept. It wasn’t fancy, but it was safe and warm. That night, something amazing happened: Baby Jesus was born!
Mary wrapped him in soft cloths to keep him warm and laid him in a manger. A manger is like a box where animals eat their food. It wasn’t a crib, but it was soft and cozy.
Out in the fields nearby, there were shepherds watching over their sheep. Suddenly, an angel appeared in the sky! The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to everyone. Today in Bethlehem, a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord!” Then, a whole group of angels filled the sky, singing and praising God. The shepherds were amazed!
The shepherds decided to go see this special baby, so they hurried to Bethlehem. They found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus just as the angel had told them. They were so happy to see Jesus , and they told everyone about the wonderful things they had heard and seen.
Far away, three wise men, who studied the stars, saw a bright new star shining in the sky. They knew it meant that a special king had been born. They traveled a long way to find Jesus, following the star. When they arrived, they brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which were very precious things.
Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men all knew that Jesus was very special. He was sent by God to bring love, peace, and joy to the world. And that’s the story of how Jesus was born!
