Joseph helped Mary climb onto the donkey’s back. Then he led the donkey slowly away from their home, down the streets of Nazareth and into the countryside. The road took them through fields filled with screeching birds and wilderness areas inhabited by howling jackals.  Now and then, Joseph and Mary felt afraid but they comforted each other and spoke of their faith in God. 

Clip, clop, clip, clop went the donkey’s hooves as they plodded up steep, dusty trails.

Clip, clop, clip, clop went the donkey on steady hooves down winding hills and rocky paths.

The stones hurt Joseph’s feet and the sun made Mary drowsy. How she longed to stretch out on a soft bed. But the road to Bethlehem was a long one and they still had many miles to go.  Finally the trail led them down to the sandy desert with its long, hot days and cold nights. Joseph and Mary prayed they would be safe.