Animal Gifts

Some years ago, near Lake Wannabe, on a warm summer day, as was their practice every day, several animal friends got together. They were the best of friends, always enjoying each other’s company. There was a frog, a horse, an eagle, a fish, and a wise old owl in the group.

Because they were such good friends, they could talk about just any topic that they wanted to discuss. On this particular day, the discussion was centered around what they liked to do and what they would like to do.

The frog said to the horse, I like to hop across the land, a little at a time. Hop, hop, hop. But I want to move swiftly across the land like you do, so fast and so gracefully, can you teach me to run? And I asked, “Me too?”

And the owl just shook his head.

The horse said to the eagle, I like to run across the land, I love the wind in my face and the smell of the wild flowers as I rush through the meadow. But, I love to watch you soar high above the land, higher than anything I have ever seen. The view of the earth below must be magnificent from up there, so free and unencumbered from the land.
Can you teach me to fly? And I asked, “Me too?”

And the owl just shook his head.

The eagle said to the fish, I like to fly and soar high above the land, but I want to see what you see below the surface of the water, I want to see the other fishes and water plants.
Can you teach me to swim? And I asked, “Me too?”

And the owl just shook his head.

The fish said to the frog, I can swim with the best of them in my school but, I want a closer look at the land. I want to smell the flowers and fresh air of a summer breeze. Can you teach me to hop? And I asked, “Me too?”

And the owl just shook his head.

All agreed they would help their friends to excel in their own areas of expertise.

And the owl just shook his head.

The horse took the frog aside and tried to show him how to make all four legs move in unison. His mane and tale flew in the wind as horse floated over the meadow. He was so swift and graceful.

The frog tried to run but immediately encountered problems. First, he couldn’t see beyond the stand of grass that was right in front of him much less run through it. He could hop over it but to get all four legs moving in a running motion was simply beyond his ability. He returned to the ponds edge close to home.

And the owl just shook his head.

The Eagle took the horse aside and tried to show him how to flap his wings to enable him to fly. The horse soon realized he had no wings to flap and that flight would be impossible. He returned to his stall in the barn.

And the owl just shook his head.

The fish took the eagle aside and tried to show him how to swim. Without fins, the eagle went nowhere. He didn’t even have the webbed feet of a duck and every time he put his head under water he came up spitting and sputtering. So the eagle retired to his nest high in the oak tree.

And the owl just shook his head.

The frog took the fish aside and tried to show him how to hop but with only fins and no legs the fish soon learned that hopping was beyond his abilities. Besides, the fish could only be out of the water for a few seconds before he began gasping for breath. The fish returned to the Lake Wannabe.

The owl called his friends together and said, “each of you have special talents unique to you . Frog, just because you can hop but not run makes you no less valuable in the eyes of your Creator. I love to listen to hear you croak in your deep melodious voice. Along with the other frogs you serenade us each evening, it is a wonderful sound. And think about how your ancestors were used in one of the plagues in Egypt in order to win the freedom of the Israelites.”

“Horse, just because you can run but not soar high in the sky means no less to Him. You are a wonderful, gallant steed, so brave and powerful. Many of your ancestors have carried courageous men into battle. You are a beautiful, magnificent creation, hold your head high.”

“Eagle, just because you can soar but not swim to the depths of the water does not make you any less precious to Him. You are a wonderful bird, so stately and majestic you were chosen as our nations emblem. Hold your head high.”

“Fish, just because you can swim but not hop does not devalue you in His eyes. You glide through the water with such ease and graceful movements. And remember how just a few of your ancestors made history by feeding the 5000.”

Then Owl looked at me. He said, “Son of Man, you are at the pinnacle of creation. You have been given dominion over all the land and the animals. If you wish you may stay here on the farm and raise food for the hungry of the world. If you wish, you have the freedom to travel to far away places.”

You too have talents that are unique to you. It is this unique combination of talents you have been given that makes you special, unique for the work that the Lord has given you.
Just because you cannot sing or have no desire to speak in front of people does not make you any less of a person.

Just because you cannot perform surgery with the skill of a surgeon makes you no less valuable to humanity.

If you are a frog, hop.

If you are a horse, run.

If you are an eagle, soar,

If you are a fish, swim.

If you are a people, do what you do best.