St. Francis of Assisi loved all the birds and animals of the world. They
were his special charges. Daily he would sit in the garden and the birds
would perch on his shoulders, the squirrels would cuddle on his lap. The
rabbits and foxes and the animals of the forest would sit at his feet. All
the animals adored him.

St. Francis was especially fond of a small bird who would sit in his
window and wake him in the morning with his sweet song. In the evening the
little bird would again sit in the window and his sweet song would lull St
Francis to sleep.

Each day St Francis would save the crumbs from his breakfast for his good
friend, the little bird. The little bird would accompany St. Francis on his
daily chores and would cheer him up with a song when St Francis seemed sad.
The little bird would sing with joy when St. Francis smiled.

One day the little bird went to the window to waken his friend with a song,
only to find that St. Francis was not there. Puzzled, the little bird asked
of the squirrels “Where is our good friend?” the rabbits did not know. Then
the little bird asked the wisest of creatures, the owl, “where is our good
friend?” the owl looked sadly on the little bird and said ” He has gone to
join his father.” The little bird smiled and said
“Then I shall go and join him also!”

The owl told the little bird ” No my little friend. St. Francis has gone to
heaven. Only humans can go to heaven. You must stay here on the earth with
us.”

The little bird drooped his wings and began to cry, so sad to think that he
would never see his friend again. Suddenly, he lifted his head and dried his
tears. “there must be some way that I can get to Heaven too!”
“Tell me”, he asked the owl. “Where is Heaven?” “Oh, little bird”, said the
owl, “it is so far up in the sky that you could never reach it with your
tiny wings!” I can do it! Whispered the little bird to himself. “I MUST DO
IT!”

The little bird gathered all his energy together and flew up into the sky,
higher and higher he flew. He went up above the clouds and still flew on.
Higher and higher until he had no strength in his wings. With a sob he said
” If I can not be with my friend, I will just die!” With that he folded his
wings and started plummeting to the ground. He closed his
eyes in resignation, ready to give up his life.

Suddenly, a bright light shown down from above and lit upon the little bird.
A puff of wind lifted the little bird up. He opened his eyes and saw far,
far above him the face if his dear friend. The little bird rejoiced and with
renewed vigor he started flying again. Higher and higher until he reached
the hand of his friend St. Francis. The two rejoiced in their reunion with
one another.

” Owl told me that birds cannot go to Heaven”, the little bird said. ” Your
devotion to me has earned your right to join me here in my Father’s home.”
St. Francis said. ” From now on, all birds and animals of the world will
have a place in Heaven with us.”

And to this day, whenever a little bird who loves his owner dies, when ever
a dog or a cat or other pet loses his grip on this world, St Francis
of Assisi reaches down from above and lifts the little one up to Heaven,
there to await the arrival of his dear friend.

-Author Unknown

Thanks to Jean for posting this on the list