Short Dramas and Plays

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SETTING:
Living room - night

CAST:
Thelma – A working outside the home mom
Ana – A Christian mom with a hint of feminism
Mildred – A stay at home mom

TIME: Contemporary

PLACE:
Any City, USA

PROPS:
Couch, floor lamp, 2 arm chairs, baby’s play pen, toys, coffee table, magazine

ONE ACT

Two women are sitting the living room drinking coffee and chatting. There are toys strewn all over.

Thelma enters removing her apron as she makes her way to flop onto the couch.


THELMA
(Wiping her brow)
Goodness gracious, will my day never end?

ANA
Join the motherhood, my friend.

THELMA
Join it? Girl, I’ve paid my dues five times over.
(Points to the play pen)
And I guarantee you; I’m not paying any more dues since that one.

(They laugh)

MILDRED
Come on, y’all. It’s not that bad.

THELMA
You don’t have anything to say to me, Millie. I know you have a house full of young ‘uns; but at least that’s the only full time job you have. Me? I’m doing a 9 to 5 then coming home and pulling a double shift.

MILDRED
It’s the sacrifice we pay to enjoy a God-ordered family.

ANA
(With much attitude)
Wait just one minute! Don’t get that religious tone with me.

THELMA
Me either.

ANA
Both of us are tongue-talking, devil-stomping believers; but I don’t see anywhere in the Bible that commands me to be totally exhausted all the time.

MILDRED
Romans 12:1-2 says we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice.

THELMA
(Purposefully slipping into vernacular)
Ain’t I sacrificed enuf? I put my education on hold and took a job paying far less than I’m worth so I can help make ends meet around here. What more could I possible lay on the altar?

MILDRED
How about putting your attitude on the altar?

ANA
And that means what?

THLEMA
Yeah! What’s wrong with my attitude?

MILDRED
Well the scripture says to present your body as a “living” sacrifice. Do you think your attitude shows you to be truly alive in Christ?

THELMA
(Sincerely)
I don’t know. Does it?

MILDRED
Let’s think about it. How do you know when someone is living their life the way Christ intended? (Doesn’t wait for an answer) I’ll tell you. They think and act like Jesus did.

ANA
(Sarcastically)
So you want us to die on a cross?

MILDRED
Not literally, of course; but you do have to take up your cross daily and follow Him. For you Thelma, one of the things that means is managing a career outside the home while being a full-time mom at the same time.

THELMA
Sure, I know we’ve all got a cross of one kind or another. You still haven’t told me what that has to do with being a living sacrifice or what being a living sacrifice has to do with my attitude.

ANA
I’m starting to get it. Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Word, “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus”?

MILDRED
(Says the first line like the character in My Fair Lady)
By golly, I think she’s got it. That’s exactly where I’m going.

THELMA
And I think it does on to say, He went to the cross “for the joy set before Him.”

MILDRED
Right! Joy, my friends, is a fruit of the Spirit. When we have the attitude or mind of Christ, we continually walk in the fruit of the Spirit.

ANA
(Slips into vernacular with a Jamaican accent)
Yo! Ya expecting me to don’t worry, be happy, mon? All the time?

MILDRED
Not happy. Joyful.

THELMA
Okay, I’m really getting it. We’re supposed to have joy, which is that supernatural contentment that comes from knowing God’s got everything under control.

MILDRED
We’re supposed to have joy because happiness is based on circumstances. You and me both know that circumstances change like the weather.

ANA
So I’m sacrificing my happiness for joy?

MILDRED
(Throws her hands up gesturing “finally”)
Bingo! Joy lasts forever. Happiness is fleeting. God wants us mothers to dig our heels in and do whatever it takes to build a home. (Pauses) Home is more than just a place where we eat, sleep, and get dressed. It’s a place to experience unconditional love.

THELMA
And the attitude I had at the beginning of this conversation sure wasn’t an expression of unconditional love. I’ve been thinking if only I could just give up my job; and my husband should help more with the children. Instead I should have been asking the Holy Spirit for strength to endure. The more I think about it, the more I think I haven’t sacrificed enough.

ANA
You ladies are making me feel guilty.

MILDRED
No guilt intended; but if you feel convicted, now is as good a time as any to repent.

THELMA
Mildred, why don’t you just pray for all of us?

MILDRED
It would be my pleasure. (They bow their heads as she prays) Lord, we confess our selfishness and ask you to forgive us of it. What we really want is to be more like you. Please cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in us. We know it’s there because the seeds were planted when we were born again. We just need your anointing to water that fruit. Help us to have the mind of Christ also. Give us the wisdom you promised you’d give if we would just ask. We’re asking. Finally, Lord, when our husbands and children look at us, let them see women who have meek and gentle spirits. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

THELMA
Thanks, Mildred. (Begins gathering the cups and saucers) But now I’ve got to get about the business of being joyful in cleaning my kitchen.

ANA
(Laughs playfully)
I’d better be going, too. (Slips into vernacular) My old man and the rug rats are going to be back from the movie any minute now. I’m going to show some p-e-e-e-e-e-e-ace. Girl, I ain’t gonna let them folk stress me out no more. I’m living a sacrifice.

(They all laugh, gather their belongings, and exit)

THE END.

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