Dear Reader:

A God Wink has definitely been in the making. Jo Dufford referred me to a wonderful story she still had on an old album from a 78 record player that would make a great Easter Story by Paul Harvey…and Thursday Jo actually brought the portable record player over and we listened together. She left it so I could take notes since there is no available  print-out of the story…just an audible one. It will be Sunday’s Easter Story.

In the meantime I discovered, quite by accident, another Easter story from the famous storyteller and broadcaster Paul Harvey and this is the one I am sharing with you now.

“The Story of the Birds”

There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak.

“I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, “What you got there son?”

“Just some old birds,” came the reply.

“What are you gonna do with them?” I asked.

“Take ’em home and have fun with ’em,” he answered. I’m gonna tease ’em and pull out their feathers to make ’em fight. I’m gonna have a real good time.”

“But you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?”

“Oh, I got some cats,” said the little boy. “They like birds. I’ll take ’em to them.”

The pastor was silent for a moment. “How much do you want for those birds, son?”

“Huh??!!! Why, you don’t want them birds, mister. They’re just plain old field birds. They don’t sing — they ain’t even pretty!”

“How much?” the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, “$10?” 

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill.

He placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars…persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit; however  then the pastor began to tell this metaphorical story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting.

“Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn’t resist. Got ’em all!”

“What are you going to do with them?” Jesus asked.

Satan replied, “Oh, I’m gonna have fun! I’m gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I’m gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I’m really gonna have fun!”

“And what will you do when you get done with them?” Jesus asked.

“Oh, I’ll kill ’em,” Satan glared proudly.

“How much do you want for them?” Jesus asked.

“Oh, you don’t want those people.

They ain’t no good. Why, you’ll take them and they’ll just hate you. They’ll spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don’t want those people!!”

“How much?” He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, “All your tears, and all your blood.”

Jesus said, “DONE!” …Then He paid the price.

Then, without another word being spoken…just a long look at each parishioner in the pews…the pastor picked up the cage, he opened the door, and he walked from the pulpit. The Easter sermon was over…but never forgotten.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

So until tomorrow…Let us open the cages of our fears and worries and replace them with happiness and love from Love Himself…the Hand Divine…the Son of God…the Risen Savior. Happy Easter!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Happy Birthday Doodle! The wonderful matriarch of the Dingle family! I hope you know how much you are loved by all of us and by all you do for family! And your amazing gardens and knowledge of them!

It was so good to see my grand-dogs last night for a few minutes…I needed to get some medicine to Khaleesi. Hope you feel better little one. Love you Kaitlyn and Tommy! Happy Easter!