The King's Birthday

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a land not so far away, there was King of great majesty and grandeur. He loved all of his subjects. Whether rich or poor the people of this King's land knew they would be treated with justice.

One day a decree was issued in the land that the King's birthday should be celebrated. All of the King's subjects became very busy hustling and bustling about. The kingdom was in a regular tizzy. The king was very pleased that his subjects would go to such trouble to bring him happiness. The days flew by and the people became busier and busier. The shop owners sold so much merchandise, for decorations and gifts, that they all became very rich men. Yet as they became richer and richer, they also became more and more greedy. First a merchant here and then a merchant there began to raise the price of his wares, so as to make a bigger profit. Housewives also were busy tidying up and decorating there homes. Each woman made it her personal duty to have her house be the most beautiful and most decorated of all the houses on the street. There had never been so much shining of candle sticks and hanging of garlands and baking of all delicious things to eat. The women of every town and village became so exhausted from all of their labors that they soon became irritable and cross. Bickering and arguing could be heard amongst them and then each women became cross with her children and argumentative with her husband. The husbands also were very tired from there endeavorers in the business world and were more irritable than ever. The children also began to lose the happiness in life because there had been so many things in the stores and so much busying and selling and advertising that each child felt that he or she deserved many toys and games.

As a result of all of these goings on, the people soon forgot the reason that they were celebrating. Instead of honoring the king and his birthday the people began to honor a legend of giving called Santa Clause and instead of saying “happy birthday” they simply said “happy holiday.” The people no longer wanted to please the king by celebrating his birthday, instead they wanted to please themselves by buying many pretty things. The shop owners continued to raise their prices, the housewives continued to busy themselves with many, many things about the house, the children continued to want more and more, and every one continued to bicker and argue.

Not many days passed before some gypsies who were not subjects of the king, came riding along and asked “why do all the king's subjects make themselves so busy.” They were told “It is because of the king's birthday.” these individuals became indignant. They began to lead all of the kings subjects astray and told them. “You should not consider this celebration a birthday for the king, but rather just a 'holiday' because if you say it is the king's birthday you might offend those who do not believe in the king.” So the people continued to celebrate, if indeed all this could be called celebrating, yet they did not care about the reason they celebrated and followed the advice of the gypsies and made sure to never mention the king to any one who might not want to hear about him and how he showed justice to all the people.

One day the king decided to ride about the country side and see how the planning and celebrating for his birthday was coming along. As he rode he saw two girls in front of a house, one girl had hold of a dolls hair and the other of it's feet. “It's mine” shouted one girl “No, it's mine, you lost yours.” retorted the other. “No I didn't!” “Yes you did!” As the girls continued to squabble over the doll the king watched with great sadness in his eyes. How could children argue and fight amongst themselves when they should be happily celebrating his birthday?

Next the king passed by the market place where he heard the voices of numerous men shouting and bargaining. “My wool is the finest,” “No, mine is far thicker than his buy mine!” “buy candles here! Mine are the finest in the country...” No, don't listen to him. Mine are the finest in all the world!” The king was greatly disturbed by what he heard. How could his subjects be so arrogant and bicker the way they did. As the king entered the market place no one noticed as he passed by and the tears began to fall from his face, or were they tears? No, they were drops of blood, and the King was carrying a cross. He would make himself like these people. He would become a mere man like them and then, to make the distance between His greatness and their depravity passable, He would suffer and die on the cross for their sins. Their bickering would continue, their arrogance would not cease. People would continue to hate one another and to ignore the great price the King had payed for them. The difference now is that the subjects of the King can become His children and be given mercy rather than justice.