The First Straw: A Christmas Story

There is an old tradition of building a soft bed for Baby Jesus one straw at a time in a miniature manger during the days leading up to Christmas. Each time someone secretly does something nice for someone, they add a single straw to the manger. By Christmas Eve, the manger is full for the birth of Christ.

But who filled the first manger for the birth of Jesus? Samuel, an innkeeper’s son, wants nothing more than to buy a nice wool coat so that the other kids will stop making fun of him for being poor. However, on a cold December night he is called to sacrifice much and face danger to fill his manger with straw to help a stranger. Samuel embarks on a quest through Bethlehem and the surrounding hills in the dark of night.

The First Straw offers what happened the first Christmas in a small stable. It’s an inspirational story of a boy who filled a simple manger. By the end of the night, young Samuel learns an important lesson about giving and faith.