Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Faith Comes In a Child (And a Parakeet?)

Once upon a time, there was a little boy and a stray parakeet.

The little boy was running and playing in his yard after dinner when a stray parakeet swooped through his yard, landing on the fence.

The parakeet chirped and chatted.



The little boy was enchanted.

The boy quickly realized the parakeet was lost, for parakeets are not native birds in his area.  He called his parents outside to help.

They tried and tried to catch the clever parakeet, but with each effort, the parakeet grew less trusting and finally flew away.

The boy was sad.

He tried everything to lure the parakeet back.

He sprinkled seed all around the fence and upon all the tables and chairs throughout the yard.

He fashioned gentle traps out of nets, shoe boxes, popsicle sticks, and string and waited hours for the parakeet to return.

But the parakeet was not to be found that night.

The next morning, the boy arose enthusiastic with more ideas to find and save his new friend.

He watched and waited all day.

He searched every tree and fence in the neighborhood.

No parakeet.

The next day, the boy continued, determined to find and capture the lost parakeet.

No parakeet.

The boy grew distraught.

He lost sleep.

Despite his parents' assurances that the parakeet must have found his way back home, the boy would not give up.

There had been no sight of the parakeet since that first night.

The boy's parents watched the boy, so sad, yet so determined.

After the boy went to bed on the third night, the parents, certain that the parakeet would never return, bought a parakeet just like the one who had visited and put it in the cage the little boy had prepared for his phantom friend.

When the little boy awoke the next morning and found the parakeet in the cage, he assumed it was the little lost parakeet.  His parents did not correct him.  It would be better that way, they reasoned.

The little boy spent much time with his new parakeet, making him toys and trying to train him.



The new parakeet wanted nothing to do with the boy.  The bird bit and fought and refused to play with the boy.

After months of trying to be friends with the bird, the little boy gave up, lost interest, and left him alone.

The parakeet grew bored and lonely.

Realizing that the parakeet still needed a friend, the parents then bought another parakeet.

The lonely parakeet was so happy to meet his new parakeet friend. 

They chirped and played and were as happy as could be.  They shared toys and swings and flew and played all winter long.



One spring afternoon, the telephone rang.  It was a worried neighbor.  She had spotted a parakeet in her yard and needed help catching him.

The mother hurried over wondering whether it could possibly be the visitor from last summer.

It was.

It was the same turquoise parakeet that had visted all those months before.  All those feet of snow before.  All those freezing nights before.  Miraculously, the parakeet had survived the bitter winter.

The bird, being nearly exhausted and starved after the long winter, was easy to catch this time.

The mother brought the parakeet home and watched with delight as the bird ate and drank and ate some more.

Then the bird fell into to deep sleep.

The bird slept and slept, waking only to eat and drink for a few moments at a time.

But what would the little boy think?  He had thought the lost parakeet had been with him all this time.  How would this be explained?  How much would the boy realize?

When the boy came home from school, he noticed the sleeping bird in the small cage.

He smiled and looked on wonderously, thoughts visibly swirling about his head.

He watched and smiled.

And watched some more.

And then he said,

"It looks like God sent us another parakeet. 
He must think we take good care of them."




The faith of a child.



Blessed are they who witness it.  



30 comments:

Beansieleigh said...

LOVE this post!! What a great story, and such beautiful creatures! I was very young when my parents had parakeets, looking much like the two you had, 1 green and 1 blue. Their names were Meathead and Gloria! (from All In The Family!).. I have thought about purchasing a bird (or maybe I should get 2?) for myself, sometime... Something on the "bucket list" for "someday"! ~tina

diney said...

what a wonderful story - is it true? I've never had parakeets but we do have gerbils, cats, rabbit and dog, and I love the simple faith of the child in the story (yours?). When our uncle died a few weeks ago, my little girl (10), was pleased to know that he was going to be another star in the sky and would be with God and also with her beloved grandparents. It's a wonderfully serene thought.

LemonyRenee' said...

Beansie -- You must get at least two. They are very social and easily bored.

Diney -- All true. The boy is my son, and I am the misguided parent that ended up with two more parakeets than I intended. -- Just happened last week!

Lyn said...

What a beautiful post, I love it, it brought a tear to my eyr too! and it's wonderful he survived and came home... in the end!
Love
Lyn
xxx

John Going Gently said...

lovely post...you big softie

June said...

Renee' I loved this. Your sweet son now has been blessed with three. You rock!
hugs

Weza said...

This is a wonderful story. So glad it is true too. How many birds do you have at your house now? Including the chickens. :)

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

This is such a sweet, touching story. Thanks for sharing.


hugs
Sissie

Chickens in the Basement said...

You are a very good mother! What a wonderful story! What's three more birds? Especially if they are happy!

How is your chicken mission going?
Anna

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

Wonderful story, Renee'..They are such beautiful bird, and I'm glad the other one came back. It's faith, indeed!

Unknown said...

Oh, J ~ What a precious blessed story ... thru the eyes of a child! TY for sharing ...

I can hardly wait to meet you.

Happy Easter!
Have a beautiful week.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Claudia said...

What a wonderful story - it brought tears to my eyes!

xo
Claudia

Jenny said...

I love this post. I totally, totally love this post. This would make a wonderful childrens story.

Oh...I love this post.

Would you mind if I shared it with the readers of my blog over the weekend.

I think the message is wonderful.

Let me know your thoughts on this.

I could do a cut and paste, or you could send me the cut and paste from your file so the pictures would be intact.

Or I could tell part of the story and then use a link to your post.

Only if you're comfortable.

Debra@CommonGround said...

This just completely blessed me! What a sweet sweet story. And a happy ending...I just love that.
Debra

Rose said...

I just love this story...even better because it is true! And how wonderful that the neighbor knew just the right person to call for help!

Anna Bartlett said...

Gorgeous story. Clever child!

Tina said...

This is a beautiful story. I'm a visitor from Jenny Matlock's blog and now your follower. You had me at your blog title and banner. My life right now is very sweet and sour. Looking forward to reading more of your blog.

Christy said...

What a simply lovely story. Your son is blessed to have parents that go to such lengths for him. This is where he learned about the Father's love!

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

oh I love sweet endings like that:)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Such a wonderful story and so uplifting. Thank you for reminding us we should all have the faith of a child.

GFDINER - Kathy said...

Thanks for this wonderful story. I foster small dogs for a rescue group in Northern Colorado. Goto www.scrco.org to find your next best friend. This touched my heart and the child's love of animals is why I foster. Thanks for restoring my heart and soul for fostering animals.

blog.gfdiner.com
aka Kathy

HAPPY EASTER I'm off to make the ham and the PEEPS Cake.

Nadeen said...

We have a cockatiel story a lot like this one. Caught the exhausted bird, probably 10years ago, in our gravel pit, put him in a coffee can and brought him home.

He lives with a friend now. His name is Maxwell, for the coffee can he was in.

Vicki/Jake said...

Came from Jenny Matlock's and love that she shared this with us. You got me now...

What a great story and the love behind it..awesome.

Have a wonderful Easter and I'll be back to read more...

Kass said...

Such a sweet story. Must be true. How else would you have gotten those pictures?

Unknown said...

What a beautiful story!
Blessings,
Catherine :)

grammy said...

Hi, I came over from Jennie M's
cute story.
We had one parakeet and made the mistake of getting another. Oh my gosh....two are noisy together (o:

RNSANE said...

This is a sweet story that touched me deeply. If only we all had the faith of children.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This was so touching and beautiful! I thank you Renee and for Jenny for sending me over to read this.

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a beautiful story and a very meaningful message.
Thanks for sharing!

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

What a warm and loving post. You're right - the faith of children is something wonderful to behold.

God bless!

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