Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Three Camels

Day 5 - Three Camels

Tradition tells that three camels transported three kings from the east across the desert that miraculous night.

Camels are strong and intelligent, have good eyesight and hearing.  If treated well, they are docile and patient.  If they are annoyed, they get stubborn and angry.  They spit.

Padded Cushions
A camel can walk easily in soft sand where a truck would get stuck.  The leathery cushions under their feet spread as the camel walks.  Their steps are quiet as they carry heavy loads of cargo in scorching heat and sand storms to places where there aren't roads.

A reservoir of fatty tissue is stored in their humps which can be broken down into energy and water on enduring journeys. A camel sometimes has to go days without water, because water holes and wells are far apart in the desert.  In their native surroundings, camels never forget where they previously found water.

Maybe the camel isn't the prettiest animal on the block, but they will do whatever they must to carry what man asks of them.  Their dependability, strength and endurance give them man's honor and respect.  No other animal can do what the camel does.  Interestingly, camels are born with pads on their knees.  In order for them to do their work, they must get on their knees.

Three camels woke up to an ordinary day expecting a routine job of transporting their owners to some destination.  They were going to leave on a journey.....Christianity's most told story.....that is kept alive with our nativity scenes some two thousand years later.

From Afghanistan
Hubby and I cherish the hand-carved camel that our niece brought back for us from Afghanistan.  It joins rank with our most treasured possessions.

Three camels are added to my Nativity.