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Origin and Biblical Background

 I carried the Word in.   I carried the Word out.

Now I carry the Word to you.

Man and Donkey are Created With 

Likeness to Christ: 

I guard over the herd of the field.

I am sensitive to the spirit and comforting to those around me.

I am humble.

I carry the burdens of others

Legend of the Donkey's Cross

 " Bring me the colt of a donkey,"
was the Master's request.

A young donkey was brought to Jesus
to carry Him into Jerusalem.

A week later Jesus was ordered
to be crucified.

The little donkey so loved the Lord
that he wanted to help Him carry the cross.

But, alas, he was pushed away.

The sad little donkey waited to say
goodbye until nearly all had left.

As he turned to leave, the shadow of
the cross fell upon the
back and shoulders of
the little donkey.

And there it has remained,
a tribute to the loyalty
and love of the humblest of
Gods creatures.

                                          by Mary Singer

Donkeys and Man are Alike Also:

A sacrifice had to be made that the donkey might live. Ex. 13:13

 The donkey has a natural nature of defiance (stubbornness a characteristic of humanity), which must be bridled.  This very stubbornness causes adverse consequences, which brings about great suffering in life.

 The donkey wears a cross on its back to remind others of the importance of accepting Christ as savior.

 Unredeemed God set our fate at death.  Redeemed we are able to carry the Word, and exemplify the qualities of Christ through our actions.

The Triumphant Donkey
The Day After
(Matthew 21:1-22)

The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride.

He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. I'll show myself to them, he thought.  But they didn't notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind.

Throw your garments down, he said crossly. Don't you know who I am? They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move. Miserable heathens! he muttered to himself.

I'll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me. But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place.

The palm branches! Where are the palm branches! he shouted. Yesterday, you threw palm branches!  

Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.
Foolish child, she said gently.

Don't you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?

By: http://biblesays.faithsite.com

The Donkey

Donkeys are sometimes not highly regarded by people in some parts of the world. And yet, our Savior, the very Son of God, chose to ride one (two, actually) into Jerusalem on the way to His crucifixion. Why?

Donkeys are plain, humble creatures. There is nothing at all fancy or glorious about them. But they are good servants to humans. They do their job without vanity or ego.

Jesus came, the first time, as a humble servant. Throughout His entire life, from Bethlehem to Nazareth to Capernaum, He lived and dressed simply and modestly, despite Who and what He was, and the incredibly important and glorious mission that He was on. His entry into Jerusalem was of solemn humility (in fulfillment of the prophecy written in Zechariah 9:9):

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount Of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that The Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey' The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of The Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:1-9 NIV)

  WHAT IS A MINIATURE DONKEY AND WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

  They Came From:

Miniature donkeys are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. They are identified as either Sicilian or Sardinian donkeys according to their ancestry, although the two types do not differ. Careful study of the origin of the miniature donkey has revealed that there is no record of the miniature donkey in Sicily prior to importation from Sardinia.  These Sardinian Miniature donkeys  have been with animals of unidentified ancestry in the United States to produce a distinctively American breed of donkeys, which we call the Miniature Mediterranean Donkey. According to all information that can be acquired these donkeys are nearly extinct in the land of their origin and have been brought to their current state of being an excellent breed by breeders in the United States who have bred for years for size, disposition and conformation.

Sardinia: The native home of today’s Mediterranean Miniature Donkey.

  A Miniature Donkey Is:

The Miniature Mediterranean Donkey is by nature one of the friendliest and most affectionate animals of its type. They are very tame and gentle. They are also easier to manage in everyday life than some donkeys simply because they are smaller. They love their owners and seek attention. They do this with friendly nudges and brays and funny little sounds designed to get you to pay attention to them. The miniature donkey is extremely intelligent and docile and is easily trained. Geldings or jennets make the best pets. Jacks enjoy braying and may become excited in the presence of the females.

 The size of these donkeys varies from 26 inches, which is considered extraordinarily small, to 36 inches at the withers. An average height would be about 33-34 inches. In general the smaller the donkey the more valuable it is accounted to be. Other things that make a donkey valuable are good body and leg conformation and one of the more unusual colors such as spotted, white, sorrel, "chocolate" (dark brown) or black. Gray-dun, the various shades of gray with the dorsal stripe and cross is the most common color of these donkeys.

 Life expectancy for well cared for miniature donkeys is around 30-35 years so they are truly a lifetime pet.