Yoram and his sister Eliana climbed down from the olive tree and ran to meet their father. Did you find him, Father? Did you find the Teacher? What did he say?

Father bent down to hug his children and answered, The Teacher talked about a kingdom, but not like this Roman kingdom ruling us now. He said his Kingdom was like a merchant who found the most wonderful pearl in the world. Next their father looked down at the ground, picked up a white stone and showed it to them. In fact, it was so wonderful, the merchant sold everything he had just to buy that pearl!

Is that a pearl, Daddy? Eliana asked pointing to the stone. Father laughed. It’s a pearl of wisdom from the Teacher. Here, you take it, put it some place safe, where you put valuable things, and remember what the Teacher said. Eliana didn’t have a safe place for valuable things so Yoram said she could use his leather pouch, as long as the 'pearl' could belong to both of them.

Saturday was the Sabbath, the day of rest. Everyone was home and no one did any work. Eliana and Yorum’s mother had already prepared all the food they needed the day before. The family sat on the floor eating their breakfast. Father took the bread and broke off pieces to give to everyone. I just remembered! The Teacher also talked about your mother…and this bread!

He did?! the children asked looking excitedly at their mother. Yes! The Teacher said his kingdom was like your mother mixing a tiny bit of yeast into her bread dough until it works its way into the whole lump.

Yoram shook his head. That doesn’t sound like a great kingdom… Taste and see, their mother said with a smile. As the children chewed their bread, Mother got up and took a handful of seeds from a bag. Here, you two. Here are some barley seeds for your treasure pouch to help you remember the taste of the Teacher’s kingdom!

The next day, Yoram and Eliana waited at the end of the road for their father to come home. Yoram had their treasure pouch tightly tied to his belt, ready for another pearl of wisdom from the Teacher. As soon as they saw their father come around the corner, they ran to him. What did the Teacher tell you today, Father?

Today, Father said with a twinkle in his eye, instead of telling you what the Teacher said, I’m going to show you. Give me your pouch. Yoram carefully untied the pouch and handed it to his father. Watch, Father said as he walked to the middle of the path. There he took some of the barley seeds out of the pouch and scattered them on the path.

What are you doing, Father? Nothing will grow on that hard path—the birds will come and eat the seeds! Father, nodded his head and smiled. Then he walked over to where a stone wall had fallen down and a few weeds had sprung up between the rocks. He dropped some seeds between the rocks.

Father! Aliana cried out. Our barley can’t grow there! Yeah, Yoram agreed. There isn’t enough soil for the roots to grow! Again, Father nodded his head and smiled. Then he walked to where a patch of thorny weeds were growing and threw more barley seeds in among the weeds.

Daddy, those weeds will choke the little seedlings! Father nodded and motioned for the children to follow him to a nice patch of rich soil. He put a small handful of seeds in Eliana and Yoram’s hands. Go ahead and toss those seeds on to this soil.

The children looked at each other then dropped their seeds into the soft, dark earth. Their father bent down and touched the ground. Now, you know what the Teacher said today. His kingdom is like a man who threw seed on the path, and the birds ate it. He threw seed on the rocky soil, and the roots couldn’t hold. He threw seed where the thorny bushes were, and the little seedlings were choked out. Then He threw seed on good moist soil—and the harvest was 30, 60, 100 times greater than the original seed! Together the three of them walked the rest of the way home. Yoram carefully checked the pouch to make sure there were still some barley seeds left.

What are you two looking at? Father called out to Yoram and Eliana who were looking at the ground, just off the side of the path.

We’re trying to see if the seed you threw here yesterday has started to grow, Eliana explained, still looking at the ground.

Their father laughed. Growth doesn’t happen that fast, but I can show you a plant that does grow pretty fast. He walked over to the other side of the path where several large mustard plants were growing. Next, he carefully picked one of the seed pods and rolled it in his hand. Look! See that tiny seed? That’s what the Teacher talked about today.

Yoram and Aliana looked at each other confused. Father laughed. See how small the seed is? But look what a large plant comes from it! Big enough even for the birds to build nests in it. Father held out his hand. Here, give me your pouch. As he dropped the mustard seeds from the pod into the children’s treasure pouch he explained, The Teacher said His kingdom is like this tiny mustard seed. That means it’s just as valuable as the ‘pearl.’

When Eliana and Yoram met their father coming home on Tuesday, Eliana was holding the pouch, looking inside. Daddy, how can you tell good seeds from bad seeds? Father smiled. Well, that’s exactly what the Teacher talked about today! Why does the Teacher talk so much about seeds? Yoram asked scratching his head.

Good question, son. Let me tell you what the Teacher said today and maybe then you’ll have an answer. The Teacher said his kingdom is like a man who planted good seed in his field, but at night an enemy planted bad seed. When the wheat sprouted up, sadly, so did weeds.

Excitedly Yoram jumped in, Did he tell his workers to go pull the weeds like mom tells us to do in the garden? No, in fact, the farmer told his workers to wait and let the two grow up together until harvest time, because if they tried to pull the weeds now, they might damage the wheat.

The three were quiet for a moment. Yoram looked out at the grain fields. I guess the Teacher talks so much about seeds because in his kingdom, it’s not easy, but good things still grow. Father put his arm around Yoram. I think you’re right, son. So now, what are you going to put in that pouch?

Suddenly Eliana’s eyes lit up. I know! See this bracelet? She took a bracelet made of straw off her wrist. Yesterday I picked some of the wheat stalks and wove them together. If I try to separate them now, I’ll break them. I’m going to put the bracelet in our treasure pouch to remind me to be patient and wait for the Teacher’s time.

Eliana and Yoram played hopscotch outside their house as they waited for their father to come home and tell them another story about the Teacher’s kingdom.

You stepped on a line, Yoram! You have to go back, Eliana called out. I did not! Look at my footprint! You did too! Eliana shouted. Look where the line is crooked. You have to go back! Yoram twisted his body to look back at the ‘5’ square. I didn’t do that! Yoram kept hoping to the end of the row. That’s the way you drew the line with that little stick of yours. You’re cheating! Eliana shouted even louder as she picked up her hopscotch pebble and started walking away.

Yoram quickly finished hoping down the row and ran to block his sister. You can’t take that pebble. It’s my pebble. I just loaned it to you. Just then they heard someone clear their throat. It was Father! Is there a problem here?

At once both children ran to their father shouting their side of the story. Father put a hand on each child and told them to sit down by the olive tree. Sometimes I think the Teacher is thinking of you two when he tells his Kingdom stories! What do you mean, Daddy? Eliana asked trying to look innocent. I mean today the Teacher told us about a servant who owed his king millions of denarii. There was no way the servant could ever pay back his debt. He pleaded with the king for mercy and the king forgave him. That must have made the servant happy, Eliana smiled.

You would think so, but instead of being happy, that servant went to another servant who owed him just a hundred denarii and started beating that servant when the servant said he couldn’t pay. Yoram shook his head, That must have made the king angry when he heard about it! Father nodded. You’re exactly right. The king was so angry with that unmerciful servant, he immediately threw him into prison. Then the Teacher said to us, just as your Heavenly Father forgives you, you must forgive each other from your hearts.

Eliana and Yoram looked at each other. I’m sorry for yelling at you, Yoram, and stomping off with your pebble, Eliana said softly. I’m sorry too, Eliana, Yoram responded. You were right, my foot did hit the line, and it’s ok if you keep the pebble. I have a better idea, Yoram, Eliana’s face brightened. Open the pouch. Yoram nodded with a smile, opened the pouch and they both dropped their hopscotch pebbles into their treasure pouch together.

On Thursday Father was surprised that Yoram and Eliana weren’t out front waiting for him. He went into the house and asked Mother where the children were. The lamb got out again, she said, he couldn’t have gotten far. They should be back soon.

I’ll go look for them, he said as he walked out toward the hill where they usually found ‘Wanderer’ as they called him. He was surprised not to see them when he got to the top of the hill. He started calling out their names. Finally, in the distance he heard them calling, Daddy, we’re over here with Wanderer, he’s stuck! Come help us! Father ran down the other side of the hill and found Yoram and Eliana trying to pull Wanderer away from the spikey branches that had gotten caught in his fur.

Okay, don’t push too hard. I think we’re going to have to free him bit by bit. Father knelt down and started unravelling Wanderer’s fur from the branches. He chuckled as he worked saying, So YOU are the lost sheep the Teacher was talking about today! Did the Teacher really talk about Wanderer today, Daddy? Eliana asked with surprise.

Well, he did talk about a lost sheep and how a good shepherd is willing to leave all the other sheep grazing on the hillside in order to go and find that one lost sheep. He said, when the good shepherd finds that little runaway lamb, he carries it back safely to the sheepfold on his shoulders. Father smiled, picked up Wanderer and lifted him onto his shoulders. I wonder what we should put in our treasure pouch for this story? Eliana thought out loud.

Father ran his fingers over Wanderer’s back and held out a clump of wool. How about this? It will remind you of our little lost sheep...and how valuable he is!

As they headed back over the hill together Eliana said, I wish we could meet the Teacher...I feel like he already knows us! Father stopped and thought for a minute. Why not? I’ve seen others bring their children to the Teacher. I know he really loves kids. Tell you what, after the Sabbath, I’ll take you with me to meet the Teacher. Make sure you bring your pouch. I’m sure he’ll have many more ‘pearls of wisdom’ to share with you!

There were still several hours before Father would be coming home. Eliana and Yoram decided to go back to the other side of the hill and pretend they were lost sheep looking for the Good Shepherd. At one point, Yoram felt a branch tug on the treasure pouch tied to his belt. Fortunately, he was able to tug on it hard enough to free it. But when the two of them emerged from the thicket, Yoram noticed that the pouch had come untied. He put his hand in the pouch and felt his heart sink.

Eliana! he called out trying to hold back tears. The treasures are gone! He took the pouch off of his belt and looked inside. All he could see were a few tiny seeds and a few strands of Wanderer’s fur. Eliana rushed over, What happened?

Everything must have fallen out when I pulled it from the branches...or maybe things just slowly fell out while we were playing...I don’t know what happened! It was almost impossible now for him to hold back tears. Together they ran back to the thicket and started looking frantically for the tiny seeds, the pebbles, the wheat stalk bracelet Wanderer’s fur and the 'pearl.' It was no use, there was too much underbrush. They walked back silently towards the path home, all the while wondering what they would tell their father.

As they approached the path near their house, they saw Father walking slowly towards them. His face was turned towards the ground. Before they could speak, Father looked up, shook his head and said, Today’s story is very sad. Eliana and Yoram looked at each other. How did you know we lost the treasure, Daddy? Yoram asked as bravely as he could. Father stood silent, looking confused.

Up on the hill, our treasures fell out of the pouch, Eliana tried to explain through her tears. We looked everywhere, but we couldn’t find them. All our treasures are gone! Father knelt down and wrapped his arms around Eliana and Yoram. I’m so sorry, children, but I’m afraid we all lost a much greater treasure today. The Temple leaders arrested the Teacher. They turned him over to the Roman soldiers who hung him on a cross until he died...

Yoram and Eliana woke up early Sunday morning. They hadn’t slept well for two nights, ever since Father told them what happened to the Teacher. Eliana poked Yoram, Yoram! she whispered loudly, Where’s our treasure pouch? Yoram rubbed his eyes, I don’t know, I think I threw it over there in the corner. Who needs an empty pouch anyway? Just looking at it makes me sad!

Eliana tiptoed over to the corner and picked up the pouch. C’mon, she pulled at his blanket, let’s go back and try to find the treasure...you never know... Yoram thought it was a stupid idea, but he was already awake and so he followed his sister out of the house and up the hill to the thorny bush area. Again, they got on their hands and knees and tried to feel around carefully for any sign of their lost treasure. Suddenly, they heard someone behind them say, What are you looking for?

They turned around and saw a man with a warm smile on his face. Eliana and Yoram stood up and dusted themselves off. Yoram spoke first. Uh, well, we’re looking for some things that wouldn’t be very important to you, but, they’re very important to us. Pebbles, seeds, lamb fur, things like that... Eliana added. The man smiled, took a step closer and opened his hand. You mean these?

The children stared at the man’s open palm. The treasures were all there!, the barley seeds, the tiny mustard seeds, the wheat stalk bracelet, the hopscotch pebbles, Wanderer’s fur and the white stone ‘pearl.’ And there was something else—a deep scar just above the man’s wrist. Teacher!?!? was all they could say as they looked up into his face.

These are very important to me, the man nodded his head as he reached for the treasure pouch. I’m glad they’re important to you. Then he carefully placed the treasure back in the pouch. Because YOU are very important to me. Next, he handed the pouch back to Yoram, placed his hands gently on their heads and said, Dear children, welcome to my Kingdom, which you cherish so much. Never forget, it belongs to you!