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Birds
In Heaven
St. Francis of
Assisi loved all the birds and animals of the world. They
were his special 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*
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