Tracy had a pet parrot named Wyler. Although Tracy’s family all lived in Illinois, she and her parrot lived in Colorado.
In April, Tracy decided to take a little vacation and drive back to Illinois to visit her family. Since she had no one to take care of Wyler while she was gone, she decided to take him along with her on the trip. She would carry him in her car inside his cage, and he’d be right at home.
By Friday, Tracy had gotten everything ready to go. Now all she had to do was pack her little car, set Wyler inside in his cage, and they’d be off. But there was one thing Tracy hadn’t thought about-Wyler’s cage was so big it wouldn’t fit in her little car!
Now what? She couldn’t leave Wyler behind, so she’d have to find something else to carry him in. She scrambled around and found a cardboard box large enough for him but small enough to fit in her car. She cut out some breathing holes for him, put in some food, and then in went Wyler into the box for the thousand-mile trip to Chicago.
Saturday afternoon Tracy and Wyler arrived safely. Tracy carried Wyler’s box into her parents’ garage and set it down. Her family had heard her car drive in and came running out the door to greet her. While they were busy talking and laughing, Wyler decided he’d had enough of that box and started working on those breathing holes. In about 15 minutes’ time he gnawed his way out of the box, flew out of the garage and perched in a 40-foot tree, and then flew off into another tree just as high. Wyler was free!
Have you ever wanted to be free to do just as you please? Sometimes as children or teenagers we don’t like the rules our parents have made. Sometimes we don’t like the rules at school, either. And often we don’t like the rules that God has given us in the Bible. We feel “caged in,” and we’d rather be free to go our own way. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6.
Suddenly, Tracy and her family realized what had happened, but it was too late. Wyler was free, and nothing they did to lure him back worked. Tracy was upset, but hopeful that if they left some food outside in the box, maybe he would come back.
They waited all day Sunday, but no Wyler came back.
Monday morning came, and still there was no sign of Wyler. By then Tracy was afraid she might never get her bird back again. She called the Community Services at the police station to report “a missing bird.”
Late Monday afternoon several boys were sitting on the beach by Lake Michigan. It was a cold, windy April afternoon, and they were huddled in their winter jackets as they sat and watched the waves roll in. They heard a strange noise behind them in the bushes and decided to check it out. Much to their surprise they found a large, colorful parrot trying to work his way into the bush to stay out of the wind and keep warm. (Wyler was discovering that being free wasn’t such a good idea after all.) The boys decided this bird had to be somebody’s pet, so they contacted the nearest police station to report “a bird found.”
In Luke chapter 15 we read the story of the prodigal son who felt “caged in” and wanted to be free to go his own way. “And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.... And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” But in time he found that his freedom only brought him problems and sadness. Some of us have also learned that going our own way only brings problems and sadness. When we go our own way it is always away from God, and that is the way of sin.
Just as the prodigal son’s father never stopped loving his son and waiting for him to come back, God never stops loving us. He is patiently waiting for anyone who will come back to Him. It doesn’t matter how ragged and sinful your life might be, God offers total forgiveness through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for anyone who will return to Him.
Wyler was soon delivered to his relieved and happy owner and continued his vacation... in a bird cage where he was safe, warm and lovingly cared for.
When the prodigal son returned home, his father welcomed him with open arms. “But when he [the son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.... This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:20,24.
When you and I return to the Lord Jesus, He not only forgives our sins, but He promises that He will care for us and never leave us. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.... The Lord is my helper.” Hebrews 13:5,6.
ML-11/03/1991