Story of the day

                          The ostrich is the world's largest living bird and lays the largest egg on earth. It is the fastest two-legged land animal, second only to the cheetah in running speed. This is a fictitious story about an ostrich whose timely help saved the life of a lonely traveller and his camel.                          The man was travelling alone on his camel through an extensive desert. His supply of water and food exhausted and he fell down fainted. He was not aware of the safer route of the caravan which touched the oases to replenish the stock of water and food.                          An ostrich came that way. He made a deep study of the situation. He found the man's water-bottle, open and empty, lying on the dry sand. It had a leather strap used to tie it to the man's body. The ostrich caught the bottle's strap in his mouth and proceeded to the nearest oasis.                           An oasis is an isolated fertile area within a desert which is blessed with water and vegetation. Oases are formed when severe storms carry away enormous amounts of dust and sand burrowing the land to a level near the water-table. An oasis is stabilized and maintained by the vegetation. Migrating birds may deposit seeds and droppings creating vegetation in the oases.                                  In the present oasis, there was a pond with fresh water, surrounded by several fruit bearing trees like date-palm, peach, fig, olive and apricot. The ostrich dipped the bottle in the water and filled it. Then he carried it back to the fainted man and placed it close to his head. The man was awakened by the contact with the cold water. He rose with all his might and drank the water. Regaining his lost strength, he stood up and thankfully embraced the ostrich. The ostrich led him and the camel to the oasis nearby, where they could rest, drink and eat and collect water and food for their onward journey. While relaxing at the oasis, the man could meet and join a caravan which came to the oasis for resting. The man gratefully bid farewell to the bird who saved his precious life.                           Jesus Christ taught, "Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them !".

Moral Stories