HAND SIGNED FOR US BY EMMANUELE FONTANINI

Beniah was one of Bethlehem's brick layers.  In biblical times, the brick layers were respoonsible for building and for making the bricks themselves.  Benaiah's bricks were made from mude mixed with chipped straw and individually molded in a form shaped like a box without a top.  He would prepare the mold with dry earth and then work the mud and straw mixture into it.  The old would then be turned over, and the dry earth that coated the inside would allow the brick to slide out of the box.  The resulting brick would then be left in the sun to dry.  Tyically making the bricks took longer than building with them, but Benaiah enjoyed the entiere process.  The repetitive nature of the task allowed him time to think abbout the bricks would build. Once a structure was built, Benaiah would return to maintain the interior walls and the structure as needed.

Bethlehem at the time of the Census was a busy place, and the busiest place in all of Bethlehem was the inn.  Having helped to build the inn and its stable, Benaiah was happy that so many people were going to make it their temporary home during the Census.  The innkeeper had Benaiah busy ensuring the sun-dried brick structures were kept to the highest of standards.  Benaiah easy to see in all that he built.  The brickwork in the stable was just as precise and beautiful as the work he had completed in the inn.  Day after day Benaiah returned to the inn and the stable making sure that both would meet the innkeeper's standards and would be ready for all the guests and the animals.

As Benaiah was returning the inn and its stable for a last time before bringing the projects to completion he encounterd a large group of shepherds also making their way to Bethlehem's inn.  This surprised Benaih because shepherds rarely camei nside.  Behlehem's walls and instead preferred the open green pastures favored by their charges.  But there they were with large numbers of sheep all purposefully striding toward Bethlehem's inn.  Benaiah caught up to te group to ask where they were going.  He could hardly believe the story they told of angels and of the Savior lying in a manger.  Most amazing to him of all, was that this Newborn King was to be found at the inn's stable-the very stable where Benaiah had been working.  When they arrived the stable was already crowded with those who had heard the Good News.  It was no longer the quiet refuge occupied by only Benaiah and the animals, but rather a humble home for a Newborn King.  While others knelt before the Baby Jesus and presented him with gifts--food, music, hand-made treasures and more- Benaiah looked around the stable and knew that his gift had already been given.  It was all around them and had provieded the Savior with shelter from the moment of his birth.