A Very Good Gift

Kiara wanted a pet bird--a green-winged macaw she could train and teach to talk. She prayed for one every night.Mom and Dad always shook their heads. "Macaws take a lot of work," they'd say. "And space."Kiara only wanted one gift. Why wouldn't they listen? Why wouldn't God answer her prayers?One morning, Dad knocked on Kiara's door. "Wake up! We're going somewhere special."Kiara jumped out of bed. After breakfast, they started driving. Kiara's heart sank when they passed the pet store. "I'm not getting a macaw?""No," Dad said. "We don't think that's the best choice."Kiara blinked fast, holding back tears."Here we are!" Mom said.They got out of the car and passed beneath an arch with the word Aviary on it. Kiara gasped. A walkway led between large enclosures that were fenced in from top to bottom. Each enclosure had its own sign--and its own type of bird. The aviary was a zoo for birds!"Do they have a green-winged macaw?" Kiara asked."They sure do," Mom said.Kiara ran to the macaw enclosure. She read the sign and learned the macaws used to live in a house, but when their owner couldn't care for them, the aviary took them in."They're probably happier here," Kiara said. "They have more space and lots of visitors." Mom and Dad nodded. "We thought you'd like coming here," Dad said. "If you want, we can get a membership. Then we can come a few times a month. What do you think?""Yes, please!" Kiara beamed and pulled her parents into a family hug.As she watched the macaws, Kiara thought about how Mom and Dad didn't always give her the gifts she asked for, and neither did God. Kiara remembered the Easter story, how Jesus died and His friends were sad because they thought they'd never see Him again. But Jesus dying and rising again was the best gift of all. I guess we don't always know what we need, Kiara thought. But God sure knows how to give good gifts. She smiled. Thank you, God, for answering my prayer. –Becca Wierwille