Excerpt
from my book Mary’s Diary of Jesus’ Life
Poor Michal was frantic with worry. Her
young husband, Raddai, went
on a business trip but would be back by nightfall. For the first time in their short married life, Michal was dreading his return.
Somehow she had lost one of the dowry
coins that had been fastened to the hat below her wedding veil
and her face was marred with tears.
“Miryam!”
Michal cried as I entered
the door, “Miryam, the
most awful thing has happened!”
“What
is it,” I demanded,
clutching her arm. “Is it your Imma—or your Mimi
(grandma) Salome?”
“Nay,
it is worse, far worse! Nay, nay,
not worse but—oh Miryam, I have lost one of my
dowry coins.”
“Lost
it! Oh, my darling tinoki, how
could that be?”
We
both knew this was no small loss. It wasn’t only the value of the coin, which was equivalent
to a day’s wages, but what it represented. This was one of the dowry
coins. If it was missing, the husband could
accuse his wife
of using it to commit adultery, and that was grounds for divorce.
Surely, Raddai would not be that hasty or hard-hearted, but I do know his father had not approved of Raddai choice for a bride, but grudgingly gave his consent. It was urgent that it be found.
Together
we scurried over to their house, looking high and low for that missing silver piece. It was so dim inside, even with the door wide open. In desperation, Michal lighted one of
their few precious candles as we
frantically combed the small rooms. I took it upon myself to sweep every corner of her earthen floor and to shake
out all the reed mats
and pallets while Michal busied herself with I know not what.
She carefully shook out her wedding
garments, searching among the folds,
I took another candle and lit it, examining all the cracks at the edge of the room,
lest it had rolled into one.
As
the hours lengthened, our anxiety increased. Without a doubt, the drachma would lose its color once it was ground into the dirt and surely the inscription would be worn off. How
would it ever be found?
“I
found it!” Michal shrieked, holding it high in
the air.
Carefully,
we removed all the dirt, causing
it to shine in its former glory. Michal snatched it up once again and flew out
the door.
“Rejoice
with me!” she called out to
some aant’at strolling down the street. They were on
their way home from shopping and stared at her in astonishment.
“Sisters! Rejoice with me,
for I have found
my lost coin!”
Eagerly, they rushed through the door
admiring it
as if they
had never seen a drachma before. The younger ladies started dancing for joy. Of course
those small quarters could never contain such liveliness so the group overflowed
into the street. Other Aleichem, both young and old,
hurried over, eager
to join in the merriment all because a lost coin was found.
P.S. Can you imagine how distressed Jesus is if one of us lose the way?
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