Adventures Chronicles

Fun For Your Family

"This page is designed for you and your children to enjoy some of the adventures we experience on the mission field.  Every month we will be posting a new story written either by Rebecca or one of the children. Our hope is that you and your children will enjoy some of the adventures, stories and fumbles we have as a family living on the mission field. We are going to start with a series of animal stories. Our first series will be the "ANIMAL FABLES"

ANIMAL FABLES #3: GEORGE THE GIANT

One of the other animals that we inherited was a scarlet macaw named, George.  George had loved my father in law, Albert and at first sight of my husband George thought that Albert had been resurrected. His immediate attachment to my husband was only equaled by his immediate hatred for me.  Since George's wings were clipped he was not kept in a cage but was left to roam freely on the property.  His favorite pastime was tormenting me.  If I ventured outside he would drop like a stone from whatever tree he was perching in and chase me back into the house pecking at my bare feet (I have always hated shoes).  George's evil intent towards me reminded me of the time that Jesus drove the demons into the pigs.   I began to think, “If pigs could have demons, why couldn't George?”   Of course, it was only a joke (or was it?).

I had always been good with animals and was convinced that with enough patience and kindness I could win him over.  After all, I was the one that fed him, made sure he had a shelter from the rain, and even tried to bring him into safety when there was a storm.  But, in spite of all my efforts he was determined to hate me.  I eventually learned that the only thing he hated worse than me was water and I only ventured onto our patio if I was armed with a water pistol.  George still managed to catch me on the top of my feet a couple times.  It was ONLY the grace of God and respect for his creation that I didn't kill that bird! 

George was absolutely fearless.  You would think that a bird that couldn't fly would feel vulnerable, but not George.  If I were unavailable, he would lie in ambush waiting for the dogs to walk by.  He would drop out of the tree with a THUD and spread his wings in challenge and take on both dogs!  Neither of the dogs ever got the best of George and they soon learned to keep their distance.

Because my husband loved George and because I believe that if you are going to be responsible for an animal it is Godly to care for it properly, I continued to heroically care for this evil creature.  One day, while my husband was away we had a terrible hail storm.  Instead of seeking shelter under the car where he would often lay in wait to ambush me, he climbed to the top of a tree.  When the storm was over he was still perched in the very top of this tree and it was obvious that he was hurt badly.  I knew that if I didn't get him at least under shelter before nightfall he was going to die.  After trying to lure him out of the tree, I realized that I had to go up after him.  I climbed the tree as high as the branches would support me, but he would not budge.  So, I hung from the closest branch that I could get to and shimmied out to the end. I began swinging from the branch and bounced him out of the tree.  He fell to the ground with a THUD.  I couldn't touch him.  He was near death but would still love to get a piece of me with his last, dying breath.  I had to get a broom and push him into the children's playhouse.  I really didn't think that he would survive the night, and a part of me was wishing he wouldn't.  But, since I had made such a spectacle of myself trying to save him I had to hope that he would live.  I was sure that the neighbors would be laughing for years at the crazy Gringa swinging like a monkey in a tree just to save a parrot.  I had lost all dignity trying to save him so he might as well survive - which he did.

I have since found out that macaws can live to be 100 years old and George will probably out live me!

MORAL OF THE STORY: Do good to those that hate you -or- Only the good die young.   

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