The whole time we were at our son Jamie's house for Easter, my husband and son Greg had a chicken documentary showing on the wall screen! (They are both farmers at heart.) Finally, I watched one with them, and it turned out to be quite touching. A bantam hen was constantly in trouble as she tried to mother other hens' chicks, until one day the farmer made her a little house cage where she laid her own nest of eggs.
Soon she was happily clucking and herding her little brood about the farm. The narrator/videographer caught a specter of danger in the sky as a hawk was zeroing in on the tiny balls of fluff. At the last minute, Mom hen sheltered them safely, only to take the brunt of the hawk's attack herself. She lay lifeless and pitiful as the camera zoomed in. A tiny head popped up from the feathers, then a hand came into view reaching down to touch the mother. Miraculously, she got up, ruffled her feathers and resumed her job!
We had so looked forward to Easter morning, when the Easter play written and directed by Jamie would be presented at church. Entering the reception area of the church, we were greeted by a scene from Bible times. The children, dressed in robes, scarves and head coverings of the day were busily working as bread makers, carpenters (a cross was being readied), craftsmen and merchants. I gasped as I caught a glimpse of a long, low table where 12 small-size disciples were lined up on either side of "Jesus." In the crush of people, other miniature citizens passed out commemorative square nails tied with a cord of red pushed through a card that read, "Remember the Blood that was shed for you."
We marveled at the play, The Thief, as scenes of a small boy being urged and bullied by a pal into stealing something from a cart were depicted, then glimpses of the shady, but likable character (played by our son) grown into a man struggling with the temptations of questionable business practices. Then one day his former friend persuaded him to participate in a robbery. They were caught and dragged off by Roman soldiers.
My heart sank as a realization hit me. "Howard, I'm afraid he is the thief on the cross," I whispered. The next scene was of three crosses: Jesus, with a cross on either side and our son on one of them! The thieves blamed each other, then one recognized who Jesus was and begged him with the famous words, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom," and Jesus' reply, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
As the believing one wept with thanksgiving to God, I wept too, at the realization of Jesus's sacrifice for us. At least one person in the congregation went forward for salvation, but I'm sure many repented in their hearts.
The last joyful scene was a video of our son with Jesus in their white robes rejoicing in a beautiful, grassy meadow full of beautiful flowers. I thought of the little hen who was willing to give her all for the baby chicks who were now running free in their meadow, and the scripture in Matthew 23:37 where Jesus says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
The message of the play will not be forgotten. We have the little square nail to remind us.
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