THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING
There was a bird who lived in a desert. This little bird was very sick. He had no feathers, nothing to eat or drink, no shelter, and no nest to live in. The little bird cursed his life day and night.
One day a dove passed overhead, and the sick unhappy little bird stopped him and asked “Where are you going?” The dove replied, “I am going to heaven.”
The sick little bird said “Please find out for me, when my suffering will come to an end.” The dove answered, “Yes, I will” and bid goodbye to the sick bird.
The dove reached heaven and shared the message of the sick bird with the angel in charge at the entrance gate. He told the angel about the pathetic condition of the sick bird and inquired when the suffering of the sick bird was going to end. The angel replied, “For the next seven years of his life the bird has to suffer like this. He will find no happiness till then.”
The dove said, “When the sick bird hears this he will get disheartened. Can you suggest a solution for this?” The angel replied, “Tell him to recite this verse: ‘Thank you God for everything.'”
After leaving heaven, the dove immediately went to where he found the little bird in the first place. He delivered the second part of the angel’s message without mentioning the seven more years of suffering. And away he flew.
Seven days later, the dove was again passing by and saw that the bird looked healthy and seemed very happy. Feathers grew on his little body, a small pond of water appeared nearby, and a nest sat snugly between the branches of a strong and healthy fruit tree.
The bird was singing and dancing cheerfully.
The dove was astonished. How did it happen? The angel had said there would be no happiness for the bird for the next seven years. With this question in mind the dove went back to visit the angel at heaven’s gate.
The dove put forth his query to the angel and the angel replied, “Yes, it is true there was no happiness in the forecast for the bird for another seven years, but the power of gratitude can change long hours of waiting to mere minutes. It is more powerful than any situation.”
The angel continued. “I saw from above that the little bird recited the verse ‘Thank you God for everything’ with hope, sincerity and faith.
When the little bird fell down on the hot sand he said ‘Thank you God for everything’.
When the little bird could not fly he said, ‘Thank you God for everything’.
When he was thirsty and there was no water, he said, ‘Thank you God for everything’.
Whatever the situation, the bird kept on repeating, ‘Thank you God for everything’ and the seven years dissolved in just seven days.”
All good creatures can change a harsh decree with prayers of gratitude. And that’s how the little bird changed his situation and the course of his precious life.
