MISSING SHOVEL

In World War II prisoners of war were building a railroad. After their days work, the shovels were counted. The guard became enraged. One was missing.

The prisoners were lined up and ordered to stand there until someone admitted they’d stolen the shovel. No one said it was them. The guard shouted. Still no one budged. The guard threatened to kill all of them unless someone owned up.

At last one man stepped forward and said he had done it. The guard killed him.

Later, at the guardhouse, the tools were recounted. No shovel was missing.

The innocent man had sacrificed his life to save the others.

Two thousand years ago an innocent man stepped forward for us and sacrificed his life to save us.  

Excerpt from Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing // illustration by Jago