The Lily and the Bluebird
Once upon a time there was a beautiful lily. This lily
had a bluebird friend who used to perch on a nearby
fencepost and visit with her nearly every day. Together they
enjoyed observing the rancher and his family who owned the
place where they lived. They watched as, day after day, the
rancher and his family worked tirelessly. Though their ranch
was profitable and their hard work admirable, the
conversation the friends overheard and the things they
observed were curious to the pair. It seemed the more
profitable the ranch became, the more the family thought
they needed.
The bluebird made an observational flight over the rancher's
domain, "You know, lily," he said upon his return, "All
their hard work is really paying off. They have increased
and improved this place substantially in the last few
years."
"I know," replied the lily, "But have you also noticed that
along with their increase they have less and less time for
each other. They have all but quit going to church, and I
hear them arguing more and more. And come to think of it,"
she observed, "I used to see the farmer and his wife taking
long walks. Sometimes they walked together, hand in hand and
at other times I used to see each of them taking time out of
their busy days for a stroll alone in the woods, talking
with the Lord. Nowadays however, they are too busy for
that."
The bluebird chimed in, "Now they've turned the management
of the farm over to the farmhands and have both taken jobs
in the city in order to earn even more money so they can
keep up the possessions they already have." "Yes, and
they've also bought a second home in Florida so they can
have a nice warm place to live when it gets too cold here,"
said the lily.
The bluebird heaved a mournful sigh, "Lily," he said, "When
the rancher and his family went to church, do you think they
heard how the Heavenly Father told them to take a close look
at you and me and to observe the secret of simplicity in how
He takes care of His creatures? It seems to me they are
complicating their lives instead of making them better. To
all this, the beautiful lily replied, "Why is it that people
go to school and study textbooks and learn many great
things, yet they aren't smart enough to read God's textbook
on life and apply it?"
"Yeah," said the bluebird, "Then they too could fly and be
free." (You can read more about the Lily and the Bluebird in
Matthew the 6th chapter.)
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
Thanks to Daily Wisdom Majordomo@gospelcom.net