You’re an Eagle
One day, Mr. McCumber called Giffird into his room and told him to sit down. Giffird knew something was wrong; he could tell by the tone in the older man’s voice and the look in his eyes. “Look at me. Do you know what I am?” Mr. McCumber asked.
“No, sir,” Giffird replied.
“I’m just a pigeon sitting here in a wheelchair, and I’m not going anywhere,” the man continued. “I know if I ask you to, you would stay here with me until I die—that’s the kind of young man you are.”
“Do you know what you are?”
“No, sir.”
Mr. McCumber looked solemnly at Giffird and said, “You’re an Eagle that landed on my doorstep with an injured wing. I wish you could stay here with me forever, but that’s not what GOD would want for you. He would want you to fly again. If I don’t set you free soon, you may never fly again.”
The idea of leaving Mr. McCumber’s home was very painful, and Giffird could hardly sleep at the thought of it. A couple of nights later, when he got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, Giffird saw Mr. McCumber sitting in his bedroom ironing a shirt. He would miss this kind old gentleman.
Early the next morning, Mr. McCumber called Giffird into his room. He handed Giffird the same shirt he had ironed the night before. It was a perfect fit. Mr. McCumber then handed Giffird a pair of pants, suggesting he try them on. When Giffird stepped into the pants, Mr. McCumber tugged at the front to check the fit, and then told Giffird to turn around so he could check the back length. Looking across the bedroom, he saw that Mr. McCumber had fashioned a makeshift clothing rod by stretching a pole between two chests of drawers. The pole was loaded with additional pants and shirts—Mr. McCumber had bought him a whole new wardrobe. Then, he opened a large envelope, motioning for Giffird to sit down at the table.
He pulled out from the envelope several magazine and newspaper articles about a large shopping mall and two large casinos opening in Reno, Nevada. Pointing at one of the articles, Mr. McCumber said, “This is one of the fastest growing areas of the United States—the perfect place to get a new start.” Then he opened the drawer of his nightstand, pulled out another envelope and handed it to Giffird. It was filled with cash. He gave Giffird the keys to a car in his driveway, as well as a map with the drive from Mountain View, California to Reno, Nevada highlighted in yellow.
One day, Mr. McCumber called Giffird into his room and told him to sit down. Giffird knew something was wrong; he could tell by the tone in the older man’s voice and the look in his eyes. “Look at me. Do you know what I am?” Mr. McCumber asked.
“No, sir,” Giffird replied.
“I’m just a pigeon sitting here in a wheelchair, and I’m not going anywhere,” the man continued. “I know if I ask you to, you would stay here with me until I die—that’s the kind of young man you are.”
“Do you know what you are?”
“No, sir.”
Mr. McCumber looked solemnly at Giffird and said, “You’re an Eagle that landed on my doorstep with an injured wing. I wish you could stay here with me forever, but that’s not what GOD would want for you. He would want you to fly again. If I don’t set you free soon, you may never fly again.”
The idea of leaving Mr. McCumber’s home was very painful, and Giffird could hardly sleep at the thought of it. A couple of nights later, when he got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, Giffird saw Mr. McCumber sitting in his bedroom ironing a shirt. He would miss this kind old gentleman.
Early the next morning, Mr. McCumber called Giffird into his room. He handed Giffird the same shirt he had ironed the night before. It was a perfect fit. Mr. McCumber then handed Giffird a pair of pants, suggesting he try them on. When Giffird stepped into the pants, Mr. McCumber tugged at the front to check the fit, and then told Giffird to turn around so he could check the back length. Looking across the bedroom, he saw that Mr. McCumber had fashioned a makeshift clothing rod by stretching a pole between two chests of drawers. The pole was loaded with additional pants and shirts—Mr. McCumber had bought him a whole new wardrobe. Then, he opened a large envelope, motioning for Giffird to sit down at the table.
He pulled out from the envelope several magazine and newspaper articles about a large shopping mall and two large casinos opening in Reno, Nevada. Pointing at one of the articles, Mr. McCumber said, “This is one of the fastest growing areas of the United States—the perfect place to get a new start.” Then he opened the drawer of his nightstand, pulled out another envelope and handed it to Giffird. It was filled with cash. He gave Giffird the keys to a car in his driveway, as well as a map with the drive from Mountain View, California to Reno, Nevada highlighted in yellow.