PO 22  Hermie the common caterpillar

By Rianne Stevens

 

 

Hermie comes up, singing:

                        He’s still working on me (or: Jesus loves me this I know)

                        To make me the one that I should be

                        It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars

                        The earth and the sea, Jupiter and Mars

                        How much patient He must be

                        He’s still working on me

 

Hermie:          Oh, … oops, … I did not know somebody was watching … Ahum,          

           Anyway, I hope you liked my singing? Yes?

 

                        By the way, I should introduce myself. My name is Hermie. It is nice 

                      to meet you all!

                       

                        So my name is Hermie. But children, do you also know WHAT I

                      am? (…) A caterpillar? Yes, a caterpillar, a very common

                      caterpillar.

 

                        Hmmmm, I actually don’t like being a caterpillar. I would love to be

                      something more beautiful, with different colors and dots or stripes.

                      Or have wings and fly to different places, see beautiful things and

                      meet many people. Or eh, I would love       to have long legs like you

                      and be able to jump and run and play football. But I don’t. I just

                      crawl through the grass and eat green grass and green leaves and

                      am green myself, nothing special. (Sigh).

 

God (voice):  Hermie! Can you stop complaining please! Remember that I made

                     you who you     are. I made you what you are. And I love you the way

                     you are! Remember also that I am still working on you to make you

                     even more beautiful than you are today! I am not finished with you

                     yet, I am still working on you!

 

Hermie:          Did you hear that voice too children? Did you hear God speaking to

                      me? Wow! God loves me just as I am! That should be my song

                      through the day: Jesus loves me this I know. Jesus loves me, the

                      Bible tells me so!

 

                        I should keep reminding myself, especially when I get sad again

                      (whistle song).

 

An ant with an enormous stone on its back appears

 

Hermie:          He Mr. Ant, what are you doing? You seem busy today.

 

Ant:                 Oh yes! I am busy! You know I am building a new home for me and

                      my family. So I am collecting stones and bring them all together for

                      my new house. It is hard work, but it is going to be beautiful!

 

Hermie:          But tell me, Mr. Ant, how can it be that you are able to lift something

                      so heavy? That stone is even bigger than you are yourself!

 

Ant:                 Oof, yea, it is heavy! But I am strong, that is how God made me!

                      Being strong is cool, I can build myself a big house. But it is hard

                      work too! I need to go on Hermie, have a nice day!

 

Hermie:          (with a sad voice) Yea, have a nice day! You too mr. Ant.

           

Oh, I would love to be strong like the ant! Imagine! I would be able to carry things, I would make myself a house, or eh, I would make a high tower and climb on top so I can see very far, or eh, I would collect a lot of food and organize a party with my friends … I would do so many things! What do you think, children? Would it not have been better if God had made me strong like the ant? Hmmm. But I am not.

 

God (voice):  But Hermie, remember that I made you as you are. And I love you

                     as you are! And I have promised to make you even more beautiful

                     one day!

 

Hermie:          Oh, yea, sorry God… Please forgive me… I get so easily

                      discouraged

 

Whistle the song while putting the snail on your hand…

 

 A snail carrying its own house on its back appears

 

Hermie:          He, children, do you see that animal crawling nearer? What is it?

                      (…) A what? Oh, a snail! And what is it carrying on its back? Do

                      you know?

 

Snail:              He Hermie, you wished you had a home like me, don’t you. It is nice

                      And warm in here and when it starts raining, I am home

                      immediately! I don’t move     very fast, but this way I am never

                      surprised by heavy rain. Isn’t God wonderful? He made me this

                      way?

 

Hermie:          Oh God, why didn’t you give me a warm house?

 

God (voice):  Hermie, when will you remember? I love you just as you are!

 

Hermie:          I know, I am sorry, I know you love me just as I am, but…

 

Buzz the honeybee flies around looking for flowers to make honey

 

Buzz:              Bzzzz, bzzzz, children, can you tell me where I can find nice and

                      Colorful flowers? Are there any flowers nearby? Bzzzz, bzzzz. I

                      need flowers so I can make more sweet honey for all of you sweet

                      little children. Bzzzzzzz.

 

Hermie:          He, Hello Buzz the Honey Bee. You seem to be enjoying your day

                      today. Oh, I love your wings! Tell me, is it nice up there? What do

                      you see since I can only see legs and shoes and dirt on the floor,

                      and… Oh, imagine if I could fly!.

 

Buzz:              Oh Hermie, yezzzz, it is beautiful up here. Especially outside in the

                      sun with all the different colors. I love flowers you know. Oh, I have

                      already seen some very pretty ones. Bzzzzz. Let me go quickly.

                      Have a nice day sweet children! Bzzzzzz

 

Hermie:          Wow, did you see that honeybee? God even made animals who

                      make sweet and tasty honey! Do you like honey, children? I am

                      sure you do. But I don’t, I just eat plain green grass and green

                      leaves, not even flowers… It makes me so sad. I wish                I

                      could be a bit more special!

 

God (voice):  Hermie!

 

Hermie:          (yawning) I am so tired all of a sudden. I really need to sleep. Can

                     you help me make a nice bed please?

                        Who has a towel or a hankie to cover me? (yawning again)

 

                        Thank you! Hmmmm.

 

                        Oh dear children, as I take a nap, will you keep watch over me

                      please? (yawning)

 

                        Oh Lord, I don’t mind being a common caterpillar. I know that You

                      love me and that makes me special. Thank you dear God!

                      Hmmmmm (falls asleep).

                                       

Sssst, children, ssssst. I really think Hermie is sleeping now. What shall we do? Should we wait? Or should we try to wake him up? Let’s try to wake him up together. Hermie! Hermie!

 

Hermie moves up and down in his little ‘house’

 

Hermie:          (from within his ‘house’) Where am I? It is so dark in here? Children,

                      Are you still there? Can you see me? What is happening, I cannot

                      move!

 

Hermie continues to move trying to get out of his bed…Then everything falls on the ground and ...

           

Hermie:          (as butterfly now) Oof, that was hard! But I am out, and I have

                      rested. But what happened? Something changed. I feel different. I

                      feel, … I feel there is something tickling me on my back! Do I have

                      wings? I HAVE WINGS! Is it really true? Can I fly? I CAN FLY! Oh,

                      look at me, I am no longer a common caterpillar, I am a beautiful

                      butterfly! I CAN FLY!

 

Hermie moves his new wings up and down and off he goes. Higher and higher while singing and praising God for the miracle in his life.

 

Hermie:          Now I understand what God told me! He was not finished with me

                     yet!

 

(sing):             AND GOD’S NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET!

 

 

Questions to the children: