1 The bird, the fish and the rat.

It was a small, round, grey bird. Not as round as an orange, but still round. It was a very special day, the day he was born, because as soon as he stepped into the nest, he started to chatter. The little round, grey bird chattered and chattered: he talked about everything and nothing, complained about his twin brother and even his father, and reproached his parents for the nest being too narrow and not soft enough. He really did squeal with all his heart.

All day long he would find something wrong. His mother couldn't stand it any longer and nicknamed him Little Griot. He ate 3/4 of what the father brought, 2/3 of what the mother brought. His brother lost weight. Little Griot was incorrigible.

One morning, they made their first test flight. Result: a complete success. The mother was very happy, but Little Griot's brother returned home alone. He himself continued his adventure and found himself in a millet field. He ate, ate, ate and ate some more. When he arrived at the nest he cried out:

- Come and feel my belly. See how full it is! Tomorrow I will leave the nest. I want to live as I please, like those who have it easier than us birds!

His mother begged him, but in vain.

Little Griot went away and found the fish:

- Fish! he said, your life is much better than mine. I would like to live like you, far from the troubles

of life.

- 0h ! Little Griot, our life as fish is not pleasant. We suffer a lot. When we go to the bottom of the water, the big fish make war on us. When we come to the surface, we have to deal with fishermen.

Little Griot went to see the rat.

- O Rat, my friend, I would like to live your life. How should I go about it?

- Well, Little Griot, that's not a problem! Just remove your feathers and wait until you grow a coat like mine!

- Okay!" said the bird. No sooner had he finished saying the word "okay" than the rat and his associates fell on him and plucked him completely. Little Griot held back from screaming. He entered the rat's hole, but it was really hard. He scratched his skin. It took him a week to recover, but the promised coat did not come and it was cold.

For the first time in his life, Little Griot missed home. He remembered the many calls his mother had made to him: Little Griot, come back! Don't go there! You will eat a lot but you will have no peace. You will only have trouble.

Indeed, Little Griot was in a lot of trouble. Well

Of course he ate well and was, if one can say so, well housed. But his heart was suffering terribly. He was nostalgic for his old life, his real life, his life as a bird. The rat wanted to reassure him:

- Listen, Little Griot, a little patience and everything will be fine. You will grow up big and strong.

But that was not Little Griot's problem. Little Griot's problem was more of a moral nature. Yes, he was suffering from having strayed from his true nature. But the rat's advice eventually reassured Little Griot. After all, he thought, I'll be fine, I'll be fine.

But one day the villagers started a fire that turned the whole bush upside down. Little Griot's parents fled into the calm blue sky and hid in the green foliage of the trees by the river. The rat, unable to hold on any longer because of the heat and smoke, left his hole.

But two children overpowered him, beat him and carried him away. As for Little Griot, overwhelmed by the heat of the fire, he made a final prayer of despair to beg his family's forgiveness, then he died.

Thus ended Petit Griot, the little grey bird, round and round, not round like an orange, but round all the same.

Yes, so ends Little Griot! But so will also end the child of God who decides one day that he wants to live free, as he sees fit. Everything his heavenly Father gives him seems to him very little compared to all that the world and its prince, Satan, offers. One day he breaks all ties and leaves his Father and his spiritual family to seek his fortune elsewhere. Sometimes he obtains it, but after having submitted to painful commandments (imposed by his new master, but he often ignores this) and having used means that are not always very honest! But in the midst of his wealth, and despite his prestige, he is alone, unhappy. In the depths of his heart, of his soul, he thirsts for something that cannot be acquired with money: the presence of God.

You are free to do what you want with your life. God will never force you to stay close to him. But just as the bird is only happy in the blue sky, so man can only be happy near his Creator.

"What man fears the LORD (respects him, loves him and obeys his laws)? The Lord shows him the way he should choose. His soul will rest in happiness" (Psalm 25:12,13).