THE MAN AND THE BIRDS

One blustery Christmas Eve, a young father sat all alone in front of a roaring fire. As was his usual custom, his wife and children had gone without him to the candlelight service at church. It wasn't that he was especially antagonistic about the whole thing, he just didn't see any sense in it.

And so, there he sat...

All at once, there was a commotion outside the big picture window. A small flock of sparrows -  seeking shelter and attracted by the light of the fire - were repeatedly flying against the glass.

Helplessly he watched, as the exhausted little creatures began falling one by one in the new snow. Suddenly, he had an idea and grabbing his coat, he headed for the nearby barn.

Quickly, he flung open the door, turned on the lights, and started coaxing the birds to warmth and safety. But to his dismay, his efforts only frightened them further.

Finally, in defeat, he turned back toward the house...

"If only I could make them understand," he thought.  "If only I could become one of them, I would gladly lead them to safety..."

Just then, in the distance, he heard the church bells, as they began to ring in Christmas. Each chime seemed to be echoing his words, "One of them," "One of them," "One of them..."

All of a sudden, he understood. There was reason in Christmas. Christ had come to earth to become one of us so that He might lead us to Eternity.

Dropping to his knees, there in the snow, he opened his heart to this One who loved him so...

And for the first time in his whole life, it was
Christmas!

Author: Unknown