Monica was walking along a tree-lined lane that led from their little farm out to the main road. She was deep in thought and not really watching where she was going. Suddenly she stopped. There at her feet was a small white bundle of feathers. She almost had stepped on it. She wondered if it were dead or alive. Stooping down to look closer, Monica saw the little bundle move, and out of the ruffled feathers popped a small head with two very frightened eyes peeking out. It was a little white pigeon that had fallen out of its nest high up in one of the trees.
Just why it had fallen out Monica could not tell. She looked up in the trees for a nest, but could not see any. She looked around for the worried parents who often are fluttering around when a baby bird falls out of its nest. There was no sign of them either.
Monica gently picked up the quivering, fluffy little bird and cradled it in her hands. She was excited as she carefully carried it home.
“Hey, everyone!” she called, coming into the house. “Look, I’ve just found a baby pigeon!”
The whole family crowded around Monica as she opened her hands to show them the frightened little bird. Everyone was interested, and soon her mother and brother were looking for a box to make a nest for the young bird.
A few days after the little white pigeon had joined the family, Mother asked Monica if she could understand how the pigeon was like a child who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour.
Monica thought for a minute and then said, “I think so, but maybe you had better explain it to me.”
Mother told her that while the baby pigeon was in the nest it was safe and protected by its parents. But it had fallen out of the nest, and when Monica found it the little pigeon was lost and helpless. It could not fly back up to where it would be safe. It was lying in the dusty lane where it would die, unless someone helped it.
“Oh, I see,” said Monica. “That’s like what we hear in Sunday school. Our sins have taken us away from God, and we can’t get rid of them all by ourselves. Jesus has to do it for us.”
“That’s right,” Mother went on. “Each of us has sinned many times. It is these sins that will keep us out of heaven where God lives. Although we try our best to do good things, those sins that we have done are still there. Monica, can you remember the verse that you memorized in Isaiah 53 about sheep going astray?”
Monica thought a minute and then repeated, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53, verse 6.”
“That’s very good,” said Mother. “Remember, that word ‘iniquities’ means those sins that we have been talking about. We have all gone astray or wandered away from God and sinned. That’s why we need the Lord Jesus to save us.”
“I know,” said Monica. “It’s just like I saved the pigeon and brought it into the house, and the Lord Jesus can save sinners and take them to heaven.”
“But there is a big difference,” explained Mother. “You showed love to the pigeon, and the Lord Jesus has shown His great love to the sinner. But you didn’t have to do anything to save the pigeon from dying except pick it up. The Lord Jesus had to be punished and die on the cross for the sins of all sinners who are saved. Isn’t He a wonderful Saviour? Aren’t you glad you are saved?”
“I sure am,” answered Monica.
Each day the little white pigeon became more beautiful and unusually tame. Then one day something awful happened!
There had been more hawks than normal that summer. They would swoop down and carry away baby chickens that got too far away from the coop.
Monica had been afraid that a hawk might come get her pigeon and carry it away someday. She tried not to think about it.
Then one morning her brother came rushing into the house yelling, “Monica! Monica! Come quick! A hawk just got your pigeon!”
Terrified, Monica dropped what she was doing and rushed out of the house looking up into the sky. Yes, what she feared had actually happened! There was a hawk gripping her pigeon in its powerful claws and flying away!
Monica ran down the road crying and yelling at the hawk, “Drop my pigeon! Drop my pigeon, you awful hawk!”
But the hawk flew on.
Then remembering what she had often heard about the power of prayer, she stopped, knelt down and tearfully prayed, “Lord Jesus, you know how much I love my pigeon. Please make that hawk drop it so he can’t kill it.”
Tears were streaming down her face as she got up from her knees, opening her eyes again. The hawk was still plainly in sight in the clear air.
She stared—her eyes growing wide with amazement. Her little white pigeon was no longer in the hawk’s claws!
“He’s dropped it! He’s dropped it!” she cried, running across the field as fast as she could. Suddenly, looking down in the dust beside her, Monica’s quick eyes noticed pigeon tracks. Following them, she found her pigeon hiding under a small bush. Oh, she was so glad to find her pet unharmed!
Picking up the frightened bird, which seemed too scared to move, she ran home with a very thankful heart. She told Mother exactly what had happened... how she had knelt down and prayed, how the hawk had somehow dropped the pigeon, and how she had found the bush under which the pigeon was hiding.
Gratefully, they both knelt down right there in the kitchen and thanked God for His goodness in answering a little girl’s prayer so wonderfully.
ML-08/14/1983