Children

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THE PEACE PARTY

THE MEETING IN THE JUNGLE

Wise King Lion of the jungle called together his advisors. “I have decided” he said to have a great banquet, a Christmas party, a party like this jungle has not seen since the Garden of Eden.”
Mrs Hippo was all excited. “I like that idea,” she said. “ Can we have the story teller come and tell us about the wonderful garden and how it will one day come again.”
“Tell me who to invite and I will go zipping on my way,” said Zippy the Zebra.
“Well,” said Tuff Turtle, “if you have a job for me you had better tell me now so I can get started.” Even though Tuff was slow never gave up. He could always be counted on to get the job done.
“All in good time,” said the King. “You haven’t heard my full plan. I’d like to invite all the animals.”
“All the animals?” questioned Zebra.
“Yes, the barnyard animals, the pets and even the dinosaurs.”
Grizzly who had until now been silent
growled, “How can you invite the dinosaurs? I thought they were extinct.”
Hippo having small ears and therefore being hard of hearing said, “Stink, what does that have to do with it. So do the barnyard animals. I must admit I smell pretty bad myself sometimes.”
Zippy snapped, “Not stink, extinct!”
“That just means extra stinky doesn’t it?” Asked hippo.
All the animals laughed.
“Even I, slow that I am, know what that means,” drawled Turtle. “It means they don’t exist anymore.”
“What I don’t understand is how are we going to invite them if they don’t exist.” said Zebra.
“It’s Christmas,” said the King. “Christmas is a time of miracles. I suggest that the biggest miracle would be for us all to get along.”
Zebra hesitated then blurted, “What about you? Do you promise to eat only fruit and vegetables?”
“I do. I’ve been thinking a lot about the old stories and the prophecies. In my heart I long for the day when we will all live in peace and harmony again.”
Georgie giraffe had been grazing from the treetop nearby. She really wasn’t one of the advisors but had a way
of overlooking proper boundries. Usually she just silently watched from the shade but this day before she could stop herself she said, “Oh so do I.” A sigh escaped from her long throat.
And so the idea was formed, the plans made, and the invitations delivered.


THE BARNYARD

“Cock-a-doodle doo” sang Rooster the barnyard crier. “Lion has invited us all to a Christmas banquet.”
Lulu Lamb looked frightened. “A party? What a trick. He wants leg o lamb for the main course.”
“Or ham!” added Patti Pig.
“But its Christmas. You know peace on earth and all that!” Rooster had his own doubts, he was after all related to turkeys, but he was doing his job.
“Does the earth include the barnyard?”
Stammered Lulu.
“Well, I’m not buying it. Everyone knows pigs are only good for one thing,” stated Patti somewhat firmly.
“What are they good for?” asked Lulu
“Bacon and Ham!”
“But thats two things.”
“Don’t get technical. All of us are pretty edible. You too Ducky!”
“Let’s forget the personal problems and get back to the business at hand,” announced the rooster. “Lion has vowed before the Creator of us all to show us peace this Christmas.”
“The Creator?”Connie cow asked and then went back to chewing her cud.
“The same creator who spent the night in a stable that first Christmas?” asked Lulu timidly.
“Since there is only one Creator I guess the answer is yes,” grunted Patti.
“If you put it that way, I guess we should give it a try.” said Ducky.
“You can talk. You can fly away if things get bad,” Connie spoke around her cud. She switched it to the opposite side of her mouth. On the other hand this barnyard has been rather boring lately. I feel mooved to vote yes.” She went back to chewing..
After further discussion and with some trepidation the animals agreed to accept the royal invitation.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo” shouted Rooster. “There’s more. The dinosaurs are also invited.”
“Well since they are not real, I’m not too worried about them. Let’s do it.” said
Patti.
“Sure let’s. I can still fly away,” quacked Ducky.
These animals had been removed from nature for sometime. They were subject to the will of their man masters and not so reliant on their created instincts as the jungle animals. Their longing for the Creator however was kept alive by the stories of his earthly birth in a barn similar to theirs.

ANOTHER LIFETIME

Big Blue and Spark were basking in the sun of days gone by. Life was predictable and trouble free. Bucko sauntered in. “We’ve been invited to a Christmas party?”
Big Blue lifted his head sleepily. “How can that be. We’re extinct. They don’t know we exist.”
“If we don’t exist then who am I and what are you?” Asked Spark.
“We’re miracles! Its Christmas you know.” answered Bucko. “Christmas is a time of miracles. It was on that day the Creator was born on earth to begin the process of restoring the earth to its created perfection. Just think our majestic clan will roam the earth again.”
“ I’ve never been a miracle before. It kinda feels good.” observed Sparky. He was the youngest and rather ruled by his feelings.
Big blue being a little more philosophical asked. “Isn’t that a bit unrealistic to think that things will ever be perfect again?”
“The way I see it,” said Bucko “If the Creator could make it all from nothing in the first place he can certainly restore it again.”
“Whatever” agreed Sparky, “I’m always game for a party.”
“If we go we have to stick with veggies. No meat. The barnyard animals are coming and they have been promised protection.” instructed Bucko.
"No meat! What kind of a party is that?” asked Spark.
“It’s a Peace on earth, Good will to all party. Lion wants to remember Eden and look forward to the promise of peace to come. Personally I’m kinda excited by the whole idea. I wonder if it could really work. Are we all in agreement?” asked Bucko.
“I’m in!” said Spark.
“I can’t see that it could hurt. Even if we were real we’d still be the biggest ones there.” agreed Big Blue.
They all danced in their clumsy way and sang. A party! a party! We’re going to a party.



Isaiah 11:6
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat.
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.


Romans 8: 22-23
For we know that the whole creation groans...eagerly awaiting for...the redemption.

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