MORAL STORIES

EAGLETS' SCHOOL

The eagle is used as a model in the Bible to teach God's loving care for man. The eagle is a symbol of authority, beauty, care and strength. It has several unique features and practices. The female eagle chooses her mate only after he succeeds in a test of skill to recover the stick she drops down from different altitudes. This skill is essential in teaching the eaglets to fly. Eagles are completely committed to their mates and remain together till death.

After marriage, the eagle-couple work together and build a nest at a high altitude, inaccessible to other birds. The eggs are laid on soft and warm bedding. She pulls out soft fur from her own breast to adorn the bed. The baby eaglets enjoy the fine rest in the nice nest. When the eaglets reach a suitable age, the mother, with her wings as a broom sweeps out the soft things from the nest to make it hard. Later the eaglet is carried out of the nest, resting on her wide wings, into the open air. Without a notice, she flips over and drops the eaglet free in the air. The eaglet tries its best to fly and stay in the air. The father watches the training with deep concern. If an eaglet falls down tired, the father will quickly fly down and support it on its wings before it hits the ground. Gradually the training succeeds and the eaglets learn to fly and live independently.

God, like the eagle, may stir our nest and remove the comforts. He may drop us so that we may learn to survive. We need not fear as He is always near, ready to support us in every fall. The parable of the eagle teaches us to face the trials of life with firm faith in God's infinite love and mercy {Hebrews 12:6-11}, {Proverbs 3:11,12}, {Job 5:17,18}.

In the song of Moses recited to the Israelites {Deuteronomy 32:11}, we read, "Like an eagle teaching its young to fly, catching them safely on its spreading wings, the Lord kept Israel from falling."

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By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

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