The Feast of the King
By Carol K. Taylor
(Salem, OR)
There is this certain King in the land who has planned a great party and supper for mostly commoners. There were a few who were wealthy and some who held a high office in the land who were invited; but mostly just common working people.
When Mary, Harry, Dick, Jane, Tom, and Sally received their invitations to this grand royal party, they were so excited they were beyond themselves.
“Let’s tell everyone we know about this,” they all shouted.
Immediately they started thinking of all the things they must do to prepare for this big once-in-a-lifetime event. Of course, Mary, Jane, and Sally started to discuss hair styles, dresses, and shoes. Harry, Dick, and Tom all decided on new hair cuts, tuxedos, and shoes. And the talk went on for hours.
Now, Mary and Harry wanted to do everything just right; so they went to the library the very next day and selected a book on “How to Prepare to Meet the King.” They read page after page, filling their minds with all the things they must do to prepare themselves. When they saw Dick and Jane, they told them about the book.
So, Dick and Jane went to the library, got the book, looked at a few pages and decided it would take too long to read all of it. They thumbed through a few more pages, put the book down, and left.
Mary and Harry saw Tom and Sally and told them about the book. Sally said, “Really, Mary; after all, I do know how to dress for royalty.”
And Tom’s remark was, “It sounds really dumb to go through a book to tell you how to dress.”
Of course, Mary and Harry knew this book told much more about “Standing before a King” than just how to dress. They also knew they should be prepared right away in case the King should have the party earlier than was planned. So, Mary and Harry got their hair appointments made. Mary bought her dress, slip, and shoes. Harry got his tuxedo and shoes. Mary made sure she had the right shade of lipstick to match her dress, her nylons the right color; and she even got two pair in case a run came in one. She made certain, too, that her nail polish and eye shadow were the right shade to match properly.
Harry saw to it that he had a new razor, his shoes shined, a good supply of after- shave, and the right tie for the tuxedo. Mary and Harry were careful with every detail.
Then, with all the shopping out of the way, Mary and Harry had plenty of time to practice things such as “How to Bow before a King,” “How to Address a King,” “How to eat with all the Proper Table Settings;” and all the other details that would help them fit right in.
Dick, Jane, Tom, and Sally kept thinking they should get busy. And, Jane did buy her dress. And, Dick did buy his tuxedo; but they kept putting everything else off.
Tom and Sally made their hair appointments and bought their shoes; but never quite got to the other things they knew they had to do.
Well, as Mary and Harry thought; the party was three days earlier than planned. But, it was very exciting to them because they had prepared well in advance and knew what everything was about. They had stayed prepared.
Dick, Jane, Tom, and Sally were in a frenzy when they received word the party was to be three days early. And, it was too late for them to do many of the things that should have been done.
When the night of the party and supper came, the Kingdom was lit up as bright as the sun; and the King Himself stood at the palace doors to greet each guest as he or she arrived.
Now, Mary and Harry, Dick, Jane, Tom, and Sally saw some of the people going to the right of Him into the great palace and some to the left of Him into a large courtyard.
When the six of them reached the King to be greeted, the King held out His arms to Mary and Harry with a beautiful smile on His lips, saying to them, “You are without spot or blemish. You stand before me as perfection. You prepared yourselves well. Now, enter into my Kingdom for the glorious event.”
To Dick and Jane, Tom and Sally, He said with sadness, “You have hardly prepared yourselves for this event at all. Go to the left of me into the courtyard. There you will bear a great burden, work hard, and will be in sorrow; and will mourn as you would for the death of your own children – because you did not get to attend this glorious event.”
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