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This article is from Today's
Native Father, issue #136, November/December, 2004. Related articles from this issue: |
The Price of a Bride |
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What would you do to win the world’s most beautiful woman? What would you do to keep her? A hundred ponies! Running Feet had only one pony and he had no intention of giving it up, even for a bride as beautiful as Prairie Flower. He was young, and brave, too, or the price might have staggered him. But he had already counted coup twice, and there was no greater act of bravery. To touch a live enemy and escape unharmed took a lot more skill and daring than to scalp the dead or dying. He would wait for five sleeps. Then there would be no moon to cast shadows. Silently he would creep into the enemy camp. He must be careful not to rustle the grass or snap a twig. Some of the braves slept with their ponies tethered to their own bodies. He must slash the rope without frightening the pony or waking its owner. Then to get away on a strange mount before a dog barked or a guard heard him! It was exciting and dangerous, but he was sure he could do it. To find a herd of wild horses was something else. His friends would help him build a corral of brush and rocks. Then they would stampede the herd into it and he would close the trap before the fastest stallion could spin around and lead an escape. If he failed and stumbled into the path of their thundering hoofs, they would grind his bones into the dirt. But he would not fail. When at last he had a hundred horses to offer, he would claim Prairie Flower for his own. There would be feasting, dancing and speeches. There would be a new white tepee in the circle and on its sides, for all to see, would be painted the story of his exploits. Running Feet felt a burst of energy whenever he thought of Prairie Flower. One hundred horses! It was quite a price, but he would round them up and bring them to the chief or die trying. Little did he know that there was another who paid an even greater price for His bride. His bride was not beautiful like Prairie Flower, but His Father had chosen her for Him and He always obeyed His Father. It was sad, but the one His Father had chosen paid no attention to His wooing and was not worthy of it. Her “forked tongue” and crooked ways were always causing trouble. She was about to die for it, and she deserved to. But He loved her in spite of all and waited for the right moment to show it. Then He offered Himself to die in her place. Nobody really understood why He did it, and few people thought of Him as a hero. They tortured and killed him. He said He would come back from the dead, but nobody believed it. Even His closest friends were surprised when it happened. This lover’s name was Jesus. His bride is a great body of people who one by one put their trust in Him. Their “goodness” was like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Yet Jesus is getting his “tepee” ready for his bride. A wedding feast is being prepared. His bride is getting ready for the wedding. She has nothing pretty of her own, but Jesus has given her fine white clothing to wear (Revelation 19:8). Everyone is invited to the feast (Revelation 22:7). Condensed from Legends of the Trail, published by Indian Life Ministries, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Used by permission. |
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