Something About Him

I’m an old, retired donkey (and for the record, I’ve already heard all the jokes). I used to give the kids rides when they played soldiers. Last Sunday, two guys pressed me into service to give this guy a ride into the city. He must have been important because there was a crowd of people cheering and covering the road with palms. At first, I thought they were cheering for me, after all, I was chosen among all the other donkeys. But then I got this strange sense that I knew this man on my back. Funny, as old as I am, he wasn’t heavy at all, it was like carrying a baby. A baby, that’s it! It must have been more than thirty years ago; I remember that Mary was pregnant, and Joseph was trying to find a place to stay. And then it was the long trip to Egypt and back. It’s him, I know it! I knew he was special when the angels started to sing when he was born. They called him King!

Well, as we were approaching the city of Jerusalem — call it donkey intuition, because we animals can tell when a storm is coming or even sense an earthquake before you humans feel it — I sensed something big was happening. I was excited, worried, and peaceful all at once. I didn’t understand what was going on.

After we entered the city gate, he got off my back. He looked into my eyes and scratched me behind my ears; boy, I like that! He said goodbye and I wondered if I would see him again. I couldn’t help but feel honored. I was humbled too, because as important as he must be, no one ever said thank you to me before. Who am I that I was chosen to carry the King – twice!?

Then, I did meet him one more time – you see, it was me he asked to roll that the stone away.