| WHY SAINT FRANCIS LOVES THE BIRDS MOST OF
ALL
St. Francis of Assisi loved all the birds and animals of the
world. They were his especial charges. Daily he would sit in the
garden and the birds would perch on his shoulders, the squirrels
would cuddle on his lap. The rabbits and foxes and the animals
of the forest would sit at his feet. All the animals adored him.
St. Francis was especially fond of a small bird who would
sit in his window and wake him in the morning with his sweet song.
In the evening the little bird would again sit in the window and
his sweet song would lull St. Francis to sleep.
Each day St. Francis would save the crumbs from his breakfast
for his good friend, the little bird. The little bird would accompany
St. Francis on his daily chores and would cheer him up with a
song when St. Francis seemed sad. The little bird would sing with
joy when St. Francis smiled.
One day the little bird went to the window to waken his friend
with a song, only to find that St. Francis was not there. Puzzled,
the little bird asked of the squirrels "Where is our good
friend?" The squirrels did not know. The little bird asked
of the rabbits "Where is our good friend?" The rabbits
did not know.
Then the little bird asked the wisest of creatures, the owl
"Where is our good friend?" The owl looked sadly on
the little bird and said "He has gone to join his father."
The little bird smiled and said "Then I shall go and join
him also!" The owl told the little bird "No my little
friend. St. Francis has gone to Heaven. Only humans can go to
Heaven. You must stay here on the earth with us."
The little bird drooped his wings and began to cry, so sad
to think that he would never see his friend again. Suddenly, he
lifted his head and dried his tears. "There must be some
way that I can get to Heaven too!!", he said. "Tell
me," he asked the wise owl, "Where is Heaven?"
"Oh, little bird," said the owl, "it is so
far up in the sky that you could never reach it with your tiny
wings!"
"I can do it!" whispered the little bird to himself.
"I MUST do it!"
The little bird gathered all his energy together and flew
up into the sky.
Higher and higher he flew. He went up above the clouds and
still he flew on.
Higher and higher until he had no strength in his wings. With
a sob he said "If I cannot be with my friend, I will just
die!" With that he folded his wings and started plummeting
to the ground. He closed his eyes in resignation, ready to give
up his life. Suddenly, a bright light shown down from above and
lit upon the little bird. A puff of wind lifted the little bird
up. He opened his eyes and saw far, far above him the face of
his dear friend. Little bird rejoiced and with renewed vigor he
started flying again. Higher and higher until he reached the hand
of his friend, St. Francis. The two rejoiced in their reunion
with one another. "Owl told me that birds cannot go to Heaven",
the little bird said.
"Your devotion to me has earned your right to join me
here in my Father's Home."
St. Francis said. "From now on, all the birds and animals
of the world will have a place here in Heaven with us."
And to this day, whenever a little bird who loves his owner
dies, whenever a dog or cat or other pet looses his grip on this
world, St. Francis of Assisi reaches down from above and lifts
the little one up to Heaven, there to await the arrival of his
dear friend.
*Author Unknown*
|
