How the Donkeys Got the Cross

by George K. Harcourt

copyright 1989 by George K. Harcourt
 

I had never met the boy before.  He was 13 and shy.  I-- an old
billy goat. The boy's father and another friend of mine were on the
ranch to deer hunt.  Since this was the boy's first hunt he was along for the "no gun"
hunting experience.  Generally hunting is slow during midday; so my two
friends decided to take a nap before the evening hunt.  The boy was
bored.  I suggested that he ride along with me while I checked
livestock and fed burros.

We drove first to the burro pasture.  The
boy asked, "What are those black stripes on the donkeys?"  I
answered, "They are called Jesus stripes.  Do you know who Jesus
is?" No reply. "Do you go to Sunday School?" "I've been once of
twice." "Do you know what Christmas is?" "Jesus' birthday." "Have
you ever heard of Palm Sunday?" "Uhmmm..." "Do you know what Easter
means?" "Ahh, uhh..."

"Anyway, Jesus rode a virgin ass into
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and when He saw the multitude there to
greet Him, He wept for joy.  Do you know what 'wept' means?" "No",
he said. "He cried.  Tears flowed from His eyes.  Then there is a
legend that says: His tears fell on the back of the ass, and marked
her with the sign of the cross.  Thereafter she and all donkeys like
her would be so marked to forever remind us of Jesus' love and
sacrifice for all mankind.  Thus, the black stripes on these
donkeys." "Oh." 

We moved on to look after more earthy affairs.