The chirpy little sparrow looked round at Uncle Henry and all the birthday guests. He could see they were eager to hear his story. Rufus and Raffles were sitting gazing up at him, their eyes shining and their tails thumping on the grass. The young owls could be heard whispering ‘Another Miracle. Another Miracle!’ and Billy smiled. They were all ready.
‘I was born in Jerusalem, and I live there most of the year’ he began.
‘Jerusalem is a long way from Joppa’ interrupted Joel who had never been to Jerusalem.
‘Oh, it’s not too far, really’ Billy told him. ‘Especially if you visit your relations and friends on the way.
‘Do you have lots of friends and relations?’ asked Keren.
Billy laughed - ‘Hundreds!’ he said.
‘We are quite a big family too’ observed a tiny owl as he looked at all the branches filled with the party guests.
‘Yes, and we aren’t all here’ added one of his cousins.
‘Now that we have that settled’ said Uncle Henry, ‘Perhaps we can allow Billy to begin his story!!’
‘Sorry, Billy’ they whispered, and smiled at him.
‘That’s all right’ said Billy. ‘Now, where was I?’
‘Being born and living in Jerusalem’ Keren reminded him.
‘Oh, yes. Well, as you know, Jerusalem is a very large, important town - even more important than Lydda’ he teased Rufus.
Rufus wagged his tail and gave his funny lopsided smile as he looked up at Billy. ‘Mm’ he admitted. ‘Even I have heard of Jerusalem and its wonderful Temple and Palace. Is is a very beautiful place?’
‘It is very beautiful, and busy, and hilly, and has lots of interesting places and lots and lots of people’ Billy answered all in one breath.
‘Can we visit Billy one day?’ asked Joel. ‘Jerusalem sounds so interesting.’
‘Perhaps’ answered his Dad ‘But no more interruptions, let Billy tell his story’ and he frowned.
‘I wont interrupt any more’ promised Joel, and smiled at Billy who was patiently waiting to continue.
‘I remember the day of My Miracle very well’ he said. ‘It was my cousin’s birthday, and I was invited to his party at 4-o-clock so as it was only 3-o-clock I had almost an hour to spare, and I decided to fly past the Temple as there is always something interesting going on there. It was the hour of prayer when I arrived, and many people were making their way towards the gate which is called “Beautiful.”
‘Why is it called “Beautiful”?’ asked a young owl.
‘Because’ Billy paused. ‘Because it’s Magnificent!’ And he looked very proud as the long important-sounding word rolled off his tongue.
‘Yes’ he said. ‘It is Magnificent! You should just see it - all shining and golden in the sun.
‘It’s made of Brass.’ The solemn voice of Uncle Henry broke the silence. ‘That’s why it glows, and it takes twenty men to close the gate, it is so heavy.’
Everyone looked at Uncle. Wasn't there Anything he didn’t know?!
‘Ooh! Can we visit ......’ began a chorus of the younger ones, only to be shushed into silence by their parents who wanted Billy to continue his story.
Billy was a very good-tempered little sparrow, and so he placidly took up his story again.
‘I saw Jacob being carried to the gate by his friends, as usual, and .....’
‘Who is Jacob, and why is he carried to the gate?’ Sarah asked.
‘Jacob lives in Jerusalem, and he is carried to the gate so that he can beg from the people going into the Temple - he is crippled, you see, and cannot walk or work.’
‘Just like Aeneas’ barked Rufus.
‘Yes’ agreed Billy. ‘Just like Aeneas, and just as happy a story, too, because this is when My Miracle happened! I was watching Jacob as he began to ask the people for help as they went through the gate, and then who do you think I saw?’ Without waiting for an answer, Billy rushed on ‘I saw Peter and John coming towards him.’
‘Please help me’ Jacob begged as they reached the gate. ‘Just a little money.’
‘Look at us’ said Peter, and I saw Jacob smile as he expected their gift, but then Peter told Jacob that he didn't have any money, and Jacob looked so disappointed.
I flew down and sat beside him. ‘Don’t worry’ I whispered. ‘Peter will give you something far better’ but Jacob didn’t seem to hear me.’
‘And now I come to the best part of my story’ and Billy hopped from one foot to the other in his excitement.
‘What happened?’ shouted Raffles as he stood up on his hind legs and pawed the air with his front paws. He was almost dancing in his eagerness to hear what happened next.
‘What did Peter do?’ squealed the little owls.
And ‘Come on, Billy’ said Joel. ‘Don’t keep us waiting.’
Everyone was excited, and Billy laughed ‘I’ll tell you’ he said. ‘Peter took Jacob’s right hand, and said “In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - WALK” and immediately Jacob jumped to his feet and began to walk.’
Down from their perches flew the little owls again and began zooming around the garden making such a noise!
‘Another Miracle’ ‘I wish I’d been there’ ‘Oh, I do love Jesus, don’t you?’ they were calling.
‘Come back here’ called the strong voice of Uncle Henry after a while. ‘I’m sure Billy’s story isn’t finished yet.’
The breathless owls returned, their eyes still sparkling as they settled down once more. They all looked at Billy.
‘Well, there is just a little more’ he agreed. ‘Jacob went into the Temple with Peter and John and began to praise God for His wonderful miracle, and all the people were amazed.’
‘It’s Jacob’ I heard some say.
‘It can’t be’ said others.
‘Jacob has never walked in his life, he was born that way.’
‘I tell you, IT IS Jacob. I live next door to him, so I should know!’
‘Oh, it was so funny’ laughed Billy. ‘They were arguing and arguing, and then Jacob said ‘Yes, it IS me - Jacob, and God’s Son, Jesus, has healed me.’
‘And then Peter began to talk to the people about Jesus. I flew off to my cousin’s house then as I wanted to tell them what I had just seen - a Miracle, my very own Miracle! I felt wonderful!'
‘That is just what we all must do’ said Uncle Henry, ‘Share the Good News of Jesus’ love.’
‘I never want this party to end’ sighed Joel. ‘We’ve heard such brilliant stories, I wish they could go on and on for ever.’ But then he yawned, the excitement was beginning to make him feel sleepy.
‘Oh, dear’ said Uncle Henry. ‘Someone seems to be too tired to listen to another story.’
‘Tired?’ ‘Who?’ ‘Me?’ Oh, no, I’m fine, not a bit sleepy’ insisted Joel sitting up very straight. A chuckle ran round the other owls who had seen Joel’s yawn, but Joel was determined to look wide-awake.
‘I can fly round the garden to show how wide-awake I am’ he said.
‘No need for that’ laughed Uncle. ‘We can all see you are not a bit sleepy, but I think the next story should be the last, otherwise the Sun will be asking why we aren’t all fast asleep when he comes into the garden.’
‘Who is going to tell the last story?’ asked Keren.
‘I am’ answered Uncle Henry.
‘Oh! What is it called?’ asked Sarah.
Uncle looked round at everyone, then said very slowly and solemnly - ‘It’s called - “I SAW AN ANGEL”’
ELIZABETH AYNSLEY ©

Acts 3 vs. 1 - 10.