Secrets Are Hard to Keep by Eleanor Guinn

In May 2018, my parents told me to come into the kitchen because they had important news. Once we were at the table, they gave me a letter. It read:

Dear Eleanor, You have been such a great big sister to Miriam. But guess what? You will have another little sibling. If you agree to this letter, then you will be promoted from Big Sister to Big Sister Expert. You will also receive a shirt that says “Big Sister Expert,” and Miriam, “Big Sister.” Love, Mommy and Daddy

I was elated. Having Miriam as a two-year-old little sister was so fun. I thought, another kid? I can’t wait! I wanted to tell everybody: all of my grandparents, my friend Molly, my classmates, my teacher and everybody else that I knew. It was one of the most exciting things that had happened to me.

All of this is very similar to what happened to the shepherds: the angels told them the wonderful news about Jesus, then the shepherds wanted to tell everyone, and what they heard was true. Another reason the shepherds wanted to tell everyone was that the birth of Jesus was momentous for all the people in the world. My second sister’s birth was not as far-reaching as Jesus’, but it definitely was very important for my family and for me.

The shepherds found baby Jesus lying in the manger, and on September 30, 2018, Laurel Katherine Guinn was born. What was told was true!

Eleanor Guinn

Luke 2:15–20

Janet Hill