SCRIPT TITLE

The Bee Attitudes

AUTHORSHIP

CHARACTERS

Bixbee, Buzzbee, Aunt Bee

COSTUMES

All characters are dressed as bees. An easy way to accomplish this is to have actors wear black pants and oversized bright yellow tee-shirts or sweat-shirts. Use black electrical tape to make stripes on the shirts, and stuff shirts for a rounded bumblebee look. For each antennae, twist yellow and black chenille wires around a dark headband. For each pair of wings, stretch two wire coat hangers into ovals, then twist together to form a figure-eight shape. Stretch a pair of white pantyhose over each wire shape. Wings can be sewn to shirts or attached with Velcro.

PROPS

3 earthenware pots, each labeled “Honey”; kitchen table, three chairs, large family Bible

SETTING

Back at the hive after a long day of gathering nectar.

SUMMARY

God’s blessings more than make up for our sufferings.

BIBLE BASIS

Luke 6:17-36

THEME

The Beatitudes

KEY VERSE

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Luke 6:23)

INTRODUCTION

Even people who don’t believe that Jesus was the Son of God still respect Him as one of the greatest teachers the world has ever known! Jesus’ most famous teaching is called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus began that teaching by promising God’s blessings and comfort to believers who were suffering. Those blessings are sometimes called the Beatitudes, because the word beatitude means blessing. Today’s drama takes a slightly different look at the Beatitudes.

DRAMA

As action begins, AUNT BEE is busy placing a honey pot on a table. A large family Bible occupies a place of honor in front of the honey pot. She hums a pleasant melody.

AUNT BEE: (singing in an operatic style) Sugar! Aw, Honey, Honey!

BIXBEE storms on stage, followed closely by BUZBEE. They each carry a honey pot.

BIX: (placing honey pot on table with an angry thud, speaking angrily to BUZZBEE) And don’t try to talk me out of it.

BUZZ: (also placing honey pot on table, but gently) Settle down, will you? It’s not the end of the world.

AUNT BEE: (her sensibilities shocked) Bixbee! Buzzbee! Don’t speak to one another in such awful tones! No matter what the problem is, you can still be civil to each other.

BIX and BUZZ: (in unison, sheepishly) Sorry, Aunt Bee.

BEE: That’s better. Now, what is all the commotion about?

BIX: Go ahead. Tell her.

BUZZ: You tell her. I’m not the one threatening to leave the colony.

BEE: Leave the colony? Bixbee, you couldn’t possibly be thinking of leaving us, could you?

BIX: (takes a chair, frustrated) Oh, Aunt Bee, you just don’t understand.

BEE: (just a bit hurt) Well, I may seem like an old buzzard to you, but I still have my wits about me, I’ll have you know.

BIX: I’m sorry, it’s just….

BEE: (after a pause) Yes? Go on.

BIXBEE is too upset to answer. He buries his head in his hands.

BUZZ: Bixbee’s frustrated because the Queen increased our quota again.

BEE: Heavens! That’s the third time this month!

BUZZ: Yeah. We’re already working overtime, and now we’ll have to work twice as hard to collect that much nectar for the Queen’s honeycomb. (gesturing to the honey pots) There’s hardly a smackerel left for us after she gets her share.

BEE: (inspecting their honey pots) Oh dear! This is a problem! Is there nothing we can do?

BUZZ: Well, when Bixbee and I complained to the supervisor, he told us we should be thankful the queen lets us keep any of the nectar for ourselves. I’m afraid if we complain again, we’ll be out of a job!

BIX: That’s why I say we just pack up our things and leave the colony. Who needs this place? We can start our own colony.

BEE: That is tempting, Bixbee dear, but you’re forgetting that the three of us are just worker bees. None of us have the skills needed to lead a colony. That’s why there’s only one queen. Why, without Queen Barbee to lead us, we’d buzz ourselves into a frenzy and never get a thing done.

BIX: (angry) I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t understand!

BUZZ: (angry) Now, Bix, don’t take your anger out on Aunt Bee. She’s just trying to help.

BIX: (angrier) You two just don’t get it, do you? We are on a collision course with disaster, and all you can think to do is sit down for tea and cookies!

BUZZ: (angrier) Hey, that’s not fair! I’m just as concerned as you are!

BIX: (angriest) Yeah, well, I don’t see you coming up with an alternative plan, Buzz.

BEE: (suddenly gaining strength) Bixbee! Buzzbee! Stop your bickering this instant! I will not have my hive turned into a war zone. Now, sit down and zip up!

BIXBEE and BUZZBEE both reluctantly take seats at the table.

BEE: That’s better. (pause) My land. You two should see yourselves. Arguing and complaining and worrying as if you’d forgotten that there is Someone whose throne is higher than any queen bee on earth. (pauses, expecting them to respond) Come now, you must remember all that I’ve taught you since you were just little bitty larvae! Who is the King of the Universe?

BIX and BUZZ: (in unison, reluctantly) Jesus.

BEE: Who created everything and everybody?

BIX and BUZZ: (in unison, reluctantly) Jesus.

BEE: And who promises blessings to everyone who trusts in Him?

BUZZ: Jesus.

BIX: Look, Aunt Bee, I know I’m supposed to trust God and everything, but I still don’t see how that’s going to help us. The queen keeps getting richer, and we just get poorer.

BEE: (picking up family Bible, turning to Luke 6:20) I seem to remember Jesus telling His followers, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

BIX: That’s great, but I can’t eat the kingdom of God! If something doesn’t change, we’ll all starve!

BEE: Perhaps, but Jesus also said, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.”

BIX: Satisfied!? With what? A drop of nectar and a morsel of honey split among the three of us? Some banquet.

BUZZ: Bixbee, you know that Jesus promised that God would always take care of us. Things might not be the way we want them to be, but we do have each other.

BIX: I cannot believe you two! You’re not being realistic! When I hear you spouting those Bible verse, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!

BEE: Well, this might help. Jesus said in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”

An uncomfortable pause, then the tension breaks as ALL laugh.

BIX: (giving in) All right, all right. What else does Jesus have to say to poor, hungry drones like us?

AUNT BEE passes Bible to BUZZBEE.

BUZZ: (reading aloud Luke 6:22) “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” (He passes Bible to BIXBEE, pointing to Luke 6:23.)

BIX: (reluctantly at first) “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” (looking up with a sigh) Well, looks like we’re in good company at least.

BEE: (standing) All righty then. I’m certainly glad that’s over.

BIX: What do you mean, Aunt Bee? It’s not over. Nothing’s changed.

BEE: Nothing but our attitudes. You know what I always say.

ALL: (in unison) Sometimes the only thing you can change is your attitude.

BUZZ: (gesturing to honey pots) But, Aunt Bee, once these pots of honey are gone, I don’t know where our next meal is coming from.

BEE: Neither do I. But God does, and I’m sure He’ll let us know when the time comes. (pause) Now go wash up. Dinner’s almost ready. And don’t forget to wash behind your antennae!

CONCLUSION

In Jesus’ time, just like today, there were many people who were poor and hungry. Jesus promised them that God would meet their needs and give them great rewards in heaven. In Jesus’ time, just like today, there were many people who were sad, people who were hated and mistreated and insulted because they followed Jesus. Jesus promised them laughter and comfort in heaven. When we struggle, Jesus wants us to remember that heaven awaits us! And, just like Aunt Bee always says, “Sometimes the only thing you can change is your attitude.”

Prayer Points

Thank you, Jesus, for promising blessings to those who follow You.
Thank you for comforting us in our difficult times.
Please help us show we are God’s children by treating others with love.