442- A Crow Desiring to Be an Eagle

While two crows where standing on the branch of a tree conversing, one of them stood gazing at a big eagle who fell on a lamb, held it between his claws, and flew with it up. The old sheep where terrified and the shepherds were gazing up towards the flying eagle motionless not knowing what to do.

The crow said in a loud voice, “What a heroic eagle! He shook the hearts of all the sheep and the shepherds! I’ll also be a hero like him. I’ll fall on a lamb and carry it up between my claws and fly with it up in the sky. I’ll go now and fulfill the desire of my heart.”

His friend commented, “What are you thinking of my friend? You’re a crow not an eagle. Let the eagle be proud of being an eagle and let us be proud of our race as crows. The eagle doesn’t imitate a crow and it isn’t fit for a crow to imitate an eagle. Listen to my advice my dear friend. Don’t do anything that’s over your capabilities and don’t imitate him who’s stronger than you so as not to fail. Know your potentials before taking any action.

The crow didn’t hearken to his friend but flew and circled around the sheep and chose for himself a lamb with thick, beautiful wool. The crow fell on the lamb with his claws trying to hold it and carry it up in the sky. Nevertheless, his claws stuck in the thick wool and he wasn’t able to carry the lamb or to save his claws from the wool of the lamb.

The shepherd ran towards the sheep, caught the crow with ease and released his claws from the fur.

The shepherd put the crow in a small cage and offered it as a gift to his young son who started to play with him. The crow desired to escape but he failed and was mocked by all.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: غراب أراد أن يصير نسرًا!

Grant me oh Lord not to think of myself more highly than I ought to think,

But to act soberly.

That I may acknowledge my capabilities,

And be proud of what my God has granted me.

Thus, I may live to be successful and thankful forever.

Discourse between the Gout and the Spider

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Two Birds Lamenting Humanity