#151 Life throws your heart to the ground. Love turns the whole thing around.

No, it don't all turn out the way it should.  But, I know the heart of life is good.

Today as I was on my way home from running some errands, I passed a man standing on the corner with a sign in his hand "NEED MONEY FOR BIRD FOOD".  On his shoulder sat a Cockatiel.   I don't know why but I felt like I needed to give this man some money for his bird food. 

So, in heavy traffic I found a way to turn around.  Parked my car and went over to talk to him.  We talked for about 10 minutes and I asked if I could take his picutre.  He told me I could take one of Shaiman but not him.  .  He introduced me to Shaiman and let me pet him.  The Bird was really quite the flirt and the man told me he really likes females.   Someone gave him Shaiman because they couldn't take care of him.  It seems Shaiman was not well behaved and had a habit of biting up the furniture.   But, his new owner told me: that person must not have paid him much attention because he hadn't had a problem at all.   

He told me how he takes care of Shaiman.  Feeding him and making sure he stayes groomed.  He said that a Cokatiels has the brain compacity of about a 3 year old human.  Then he said, " My son was abducted when he was 2 and I didn't get to raise him.  I feel really blessed that I can take care of this cockatiel. Kind of like I am being  given a chance to care for something to help fill the void of my son."

I said, " I think you are right"   I thanked him for telling me about his bird and gave him some money for bird food. 

It got me thinking about how we can be angry and bitter  about our situation, buy maybe if we look hard enough we will find a silver lining.  No one can bring back this man's son.  But, someone gave him something to love and  to fill the void.