“With her last bit of strength, Lydia pulled the infant close to her breast to shield him from the wind and the biting desert cold. Caressing him, she whispered, ‘My sweet baby.’ Then she prayed through her tears, ‘Oh Lord, I give my child to you. Use him as you will, but please let him live. Please, Lord…deliver my son to safety.’” ~Excerpt from the Introduction
Have you ever wondered what happened to the shepherds of Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth? Did they ever see the Promised Child again? After thirty years, what memories did they have of that blessed night? Or what the aftermath of Herod’s massacre was like for the residents of Bethlehem? And did Jesus ever return to the city of His birth?
These are questions that begged to be answered after reading the various accounts of the Christmas story contained in the gospels. And while history has no answers to these questions, Richard M. Barry has done a marvelous job of weaving a biblical fiction story from his speculations and reflections on this pivotal moment in history. Bringing together Jewish culture and tradition, biblical events, Messianic prophecies, the shepherds of Bethlehem, Bethlehemites, and Jesus Christ Himself, Barry creates a timeless classic that has become a Christmas tradition in our home.
The Shepherds’ Prayer follows the fictitious character of an orphaned man named Anam who knows none of his families’ history and heritage and goes in search of answers with only a sheepskin blanket for a lead. And as he goes to Bethlehem, he finds much more than the answers he was looking for as he meets some eccentric shepherds with a very strange story. So follow the story and journey of Anam on his quest to find the secrets of his past and hope for the future. And may the story of the humble shepherds’ endear your heart this Christmas and for many Christmases to come!
These are questions that begged to be answered after reading the various accounts of the Christmas story contained in the gospels. And while history has no answers to these questions, Richard M. Barry has done a marvelous job of weaving a biblical fiction story from his speculations and reflections on this pivotal moment in history. Bringing together Jewish culture and tradition, biblical events, Messianic prophecies, the shepherds of Bethlehem, Bethlehemites, and Jesus Christ Himself, Barry creates a timeless classic that has become a Christmas tradition in our home.
The Shepherds’ Prayer follows the fictitious character of an orphaned man named Anam who knows none of his families’ history and heritage and goes in search of answers with only a sheepskin blanket for a lead. And as he goes to Bethlehem, he finds much more than the answers he was looking for as he meets some eccentric shepherds with a very strange story. So follow the story and journey of Anam on his quest to find the secrets of his past and hope for the future. And may the story of the humble shepherds’ endear your heart this Christmas and for many Christmases to come!
RSS Feed