Stories for Children. Written by Rev.A.R.Smith The Lamb, The Lion and The Bear. I want to tell you the story of a Lamb, a Lion, and a Bear. As the story goes: A small Lamb once believed that there was nothing that could ever hurt him. He became tired of the same old pasture and seeing the open fields that lay before Him, wanted to claim all that He could for Himself. "Look at me." He said to the other sheep, "Have you ever seen anyone as I?" He was so proud of His white coat of wool and His Legs of strength. A swift little thing he was, jumping higher than any other and seeing, as of the eyes of an eagle, and smart, he was even surprised on how intelligent he was. Being warned not to stray away from the flock, he decided that nothing could hurt him, so he went on a journey on his own. He wanted to see far off places and discover new things that were never discovered before. A couple of days on his own was wonderful, the squirrels and field mice were afraid of him and his, courage and pride, was increasing by the moment. Occasionally he would run into a herd of elder sheep, which warned Him to return to the flock until He grew older and wiser. " I am all that I need." He would reply, as He went on His way. "It’s a beautiful time to be alive", he said to himself. Now on the third morning, as he was rambling thru, this new world that he had found, he ran across a hungry Bear. "I’m not afraid of this creature." He said to himself. "I desire food. Stay still and I will kill you quickly." Said the hungry bear. " I am swift and beautiful and no meal for a bear." The Lamb replied. And as the Bear started to chase the little lamb, the lamb spotted a log, lying across a gully and ran as fast as he could to get across first. On the other side of the gully, the little lamb, turned and kicked the log as hard as he could, for the Bear was already half way across. The log dislodged and fell, carrying the Bear with it to his death. The little Lamb was so proud of himself, he started to dance and sing and boasted on how great he was, "To kill a mighty Bear, I’m so proud, my shiny white wool, and strong legs and how smart I am. There’s nothing that can hurt me." As the little Lamb turned to prance off with His pride, He ran straight into the arms of a waiting Lion, who slew the little lamb and devoured him, straight way. The Eagle and The Peacock. In a land far, far away, there was a beautiful mountain. Higher than high, stronger than the strongest, more majestic than man had ever seen. Beautiful white clouds, so white that they appeared to be smoke billowing about the summit surrounded it. Blue sky and shimmering lakes as if they were glass, reflecting the green trees of every type, and at night doubling the moon and stars as if they were painted upon the waters. At the top of the mountain sat an Eagle, a majestic bird of strength and courage, the only one that dared to be at such a height. This was His domain and kingdom. From the perch that He sat upon, He could see all the lands and creatures that lived upon the earth. A great responsibility He had, since an Eagle was a Bird of prey, He had to decide who would live or die at each rising of the sun. A lonely life He had, only wanting to share this kingdom of His, with someone else, who would come to Him in Love and understanding. Wanting a Son, Yes, but wanting more than a Son, He wanted a Family. Now at the bottom of this beautiful mountain was a Peacock, brash and bold. He was always bragging on how colorful He was. He had for sometime looked upon the mountain with envy and desire in His heart to posses it for His own. "I’m as good as the Eagle, why shouldn’t I have part of this mountain for my own."" I will make my nest above the clouds and write my name among the Stars and I will be as the Eagle, making choices of Life and Death to the inferior creatures below." "The Eagle turns away from no one.” said a lamb to the Peacock, its better that you forget your pride and remain as you were created." The Peacock replied;” I will be as the Eagle or better." So the peacock in his ambition started to walk up the mountain, wanting everyone to see His beautiful tail, all spread out and fanning. As He neared the summit, the Eagle looked down upon Him and asked,” Why have you tempted me in such a manor, why have you tried to be something you will never be?" "I will be as you are Eagle, I will make my perch above the clouds and I will write my name among the stars and I will make decisions on who lives and dies below, I am so beautiful, I deserve this for myself." This made the Eagle very angry and wroth with the Peacock. With His talons spread wide and a shadow of His mighty wings covering the sun, He swooped down upon the Peacock and snatched Him up and carried Him beyond the edge of the mountain. "You are full of pride, my friend. To be an Eagle, as I, you must first show all that you can soar as an Eagle." And at this saying the Mighty Eagle released the Peacock and let Him fall. The fall was a great one and the further the Peacock fell the more heat built up in Him as He tried to fly, the heat was so great that he was caught on fire and fell as a burning star from the sky. As the Eagle hovered above, He said to all the creatures below, "I am the Eagle and no one else is like I, and remember what you have learned today, you can’t soar with the Eagles, with a barn yard mentality." The Old Lady and The Snake. In a land not so far away from here, lived and old lady, in a cabin, by a lake, by a falls, by a forest of green pines. The weather was always pretty there, by the lake. Swans were always swimming and duck and geese were always happy to be honking all the daylong. Fish would jump and swim and play about the pretty lake, as raccoon and bear and all manner of animals enjoyed being around the old lady, in a cabin, by the lake, by the falls, by the forest of green pines. The old lady often sat on her porch and look up at the mountain, with the snow covering the top, for she had never touched the snow where she lived. As the night fell and all the animals went to sleep, the old lady spotted the first star of the evening and decided to make a wish, thou she had never made a wish before,” I wish, I wish I could touch the snow and play with its white flakes, so soft and fluffy before I die.” Now as the old Lady started to turn in for the night, she peered out her window to see a most unusual sight. Snow, it was snowing, by the cabin, by the lake, by the falls, by the forest of green pines, snowing everywhere! “My wish has come true. I must go and touch this snow and feel its fluffy flakes before it melts and goes away.” So the old Lady dawned her coat and boots and walked out into the cold clear night. Now as she was strolling by the forest of green pines she spied a curious sight, a snake, half frozen in the grass by a large pine tree. “Have pity on me old Lady, for I am so cold and lonely. Please take me into your cabin and let me warm myself by the fire, lest I die all alone in this snow.” Hissed the Snake.
“The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.” Quoted the old lady. “A snake doesn’t belong in my cabin.” “I would not even ask you old Lady, except for this snow that came from nowhere and caught me out of my den.” And as the snake stated this, the old Lady remembered that it was she, whom wished the snow to fall, and deciding in herself, that it was her fault that the snake was about to die, she decided to take the snake in to let him warm himself by the fire. So she wrapped the snake up in a blanket of wool and placed him by the fire, haven given him, meat to eat and water to drink, she retired for the night. As the old Lady arose the next morning, she went to check up on the snake to make sure that he was all right. As she reached down to wake him, the snake bit the old Lady. “ You are a poisonest snake and, you repay me this way for helping you?” “It was I who caused the snow to fall, because of my wish, but didn’t I give you my blanket and fire and food and water to help you? I saved your life and now you repay my kindness, by taking mine. Why?” Exclaimed the old Lady. “The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. Silly old Lady, you have no power over the weather to make it snow and you knew that I was a snake before you brought me in.” Hissed the Snake. In a land not so far away from here, there used to live and old lady, in a cabin, by a lake, by a falls, by a forest of green pines.
1. The Lamb, The Lion and The Bear; Reference; Pro. 16:18. 2. The Eagle and The Peacock; Reference; Isa.14: 9 - 16. 3. The Old Lady and The Snake; Reference; Gen 3:1-15.
Jesus, used parables to make a point. We see here in this parable that the Lamb represents two different types of people, 1. The proud boaster and, 2. The young Christian, not knowing the ways of the world. Many of you here today need to understand, that the world in scripture represents, not the people, per say, but an attitude, a spirit, a way of thinking and a way of life. Ars.
