The Parrot

Stay Encouraged. How? Life is not a destination; it’s a journey. When this is not understood we often miss out on the moment, and after all life is made up of moments and we want lots of them. Let’s stay encouraged. A widow was lonely so she was told to buy a parrot and it would talk to her. She went to the pet store and purchased one; it didn’t speak, she went back to the store complaining, the owner said, “Did you get the cage?” “No,” said the woman. “You have to get the cage; then he will talk.”

She got the cage, but he still didn’t speak, so she went back to the store told them that the parrot still didn’t talk. “Did you get the swing?” “No,” she said. “He likes to be in his cage and swing on the swing.” She got the swing, but he still didn’t talk. She went back to the pet store, the owner said, “Did you get the ladder and mirror?” “No,” she said. “He loves to be in his cage, swing on his swing go up and down the ladder and look at himself, then he will talk.” So she got everything he said, and you’ll never guess what happened, the parrot died. She went back to the owner of the pet store and told him that her parrot died. He said, “Did he say anything before he died?” She thought a minute, “Yes, he said, don’t they have any food at that pet store?” We miss the obvious because we stay focused on the wrong things. Let’s stay encouraged!

Years ago I came by the following that has always been a great encourager to me. “If I had my life to live all over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I’ve been! I know of few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips; I would be crazier. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more sunsets! I would do more walking and looking. I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I would have more actual troubles and less imaginary ones.

Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it all over again, I’d have more of them, in fact, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead. If I had my life to live all over again, I would go more places, do more things and travel lighter than I have. I would start out barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play hooky more, and I wouldn’t make such good grades except by accident”.

This story was written long ago by a monk. Don’t wait to have to write it instead, live it, and stay encouraged.

For many more stories like this that will help you stay encouraged, you can preview the first part of the series called “Inspirational Stories Part 1”.

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