Once upon a time, in a small town, there lived a merchant who owned a beautiful little bird. She stayed in a golden cage in his shop, and her sweet songs filled the air every morning and evening. The merchant adored her voice so much that he fed her in a golden dish and made sure she had everything—except her freedom.
One day, as he was preparing for a long journey through the forest, he asked the bird gently,
“I will pass through the woods where you were born. Is there a message you would like me to take to your friends?”
The bird’s eyes softened. In a trembling, musical voice she said,
“Tell them I sit in sorrow, trapped behind these bars. I sing day and night, but my heart is heavy. I long to fly again with my Beloved, to stretch my wings in the open sky. Ask them if there is any hope for me.”
The merchant nodded quietly, though a part of him ached at the thought of losing her song. He packed his goods and set out on his donkey.
Days later, as he reached the forest, he called out to the wild birds:
“Greetings from your sister, who sings from a cage in my shop. She longs to be free and asks if you have a message to ease her sorrow.”
The forest fell still. Then, one bird suddenly shrieked and dropped lifeless from a branch. The merchant stood frozen, shaken and confused. He waited, but no other bird spoke. Saddened, he continued his journey, carrying the mystery with him.
When he returned home, his little bird asked eagerly,
“What news did my friends send me? Did they speak of freedom? Did they remember me?”
The merchant hesitated. “I… I told them your message. But after I spoke, one bird fell dead from a tree. I don’t know what it meant.”
At that, the caged bird let out a piercing cry and collapsed to the floor of her cage, lying still and silent.
The merchant’s heart broke. “What have I done?” he wept. “First the bird in the forest, and now my own sweet bird. I have lost everything.”
With tears streaming, he opened the cage door and lifted her limp body in his hands. “I will bury you with love,” he whispered.
But at that very moment, the bird stirred. With a sudden rush of wings, she soared into the air, out of his hands, and through the open window. She perched on the roof, alive and free.
Looking back at the stunned merchant, she spoke:
“Thank you, kind master, for delivering my message. The bird in the forest gave me the secret of freedom. He showed me that to escape, I must appear dead—dead to the cage, dead to captivity. Only then could I live again.”
Her voice softened.
“Now I return to my Beloved, to the life I was meant for. Goodbye.”
And with that, she flew into the wide sky, disappearing among the clouds.
The merchant stood in silence, the golden cage empty at last. His heart felt heavy, yet strangely lighter too. He realized what the bird had taught him: true love is not about keeping someone close—it is about giving them the freedom to fly.
✨ Reflection: The story of the caged bird teaches us that sometimes, love demands sacrifice. Holding on may feel safe, but letting go is what truly honors another’s soul. Freedom is the greatest gift we can give to those we love.
____________
0 facebook:
Post a Comment