Children

The Spirit And The Saint

by Stephen Kimball 
06/18/16
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     Mamma Bear loved Baby Bear with all her heart and from the moment he arrived she was always by his side, carefully watching over him and protecting him from harm. Mamma Bear made sure that Baby Bear had everything he needed, teaching him along the way, all of the skills a young bear would need to learn in order to survive and thrive in the forest. They enjoyed every moment together, especially when they had free time to play. As Baby Bear grew older and bigger, Mamma Bear gave him more freedom to roam and to play and to discover on his own. It didn’t take long for Mamma Bear to see that Baby Bear had a penchant for mischief. He would often go wondering off, losing track of where he was, usually distracted by something that seemed fun to chase. There were a lot of rabbits in the forest and Baby Bear loved to chase rabbits.

     By now, Baby Bear knew better than to wander outside of the boundaries that Mamma Bear had set for him. While he often thought he was all alone, Mamma Bear always kept an eye on him wherever he went and at the sound of her voice he would usually, with some reluctance, return home. While he did appreciate all that she had done for him, it seemed he couldn’t resist the temptation to chase those rabbits.

     One crisp fall afternoon, as Baby Bear was enjoying his usual midday nap, he was suddenly disturbed from his sleep as he caught a hint of that unmistakable scent - wafting through the breeze. Instantly awake, he lifted his head in amusement and, as quietly as a bear can, poked his head through the brush to locate his prey. He had never actually caught one of these creatures, they were much quicker than he was, but this time he was determined. Slowly, as if he wouldn’t be noticed, Baby Bear began his approach. Usually, it didn’t take long before finding a hole to hop down into but for some reason this rabbit would move ahead, keeping a safe distance and then stop, eyeing Baby Bear as if to taunt him into chasing him farther. Baby Bear took the bait and it wasn’t long before he knew he had reached his boundary line. He could hear Mamma Bear in the distance but nothing was going to stand in his way this time.

     This stop and chase game continued for a long time until, all of a sudden, Baby Bear noticed it was getting dark. Not recognizing anything around him, he was afraid. He had strayed too far and without the sun to light the way or the path to guide him he realized he was hopelessly lost. Not only had he lost his way but he was worried about the scolding he might get if he did find his way back home.

     All alone, the dark woods were much scarier than he ever remembered. Startled by the hoot of a nearby owl, Baby Bear scrambled for cover in an old hollowed out tree stump that seemed the perfect place to disappear for a while and rest and think. Disappointed in himself, he decided to stay put for the night and hide from Mamma Bear who he knew would be coming for him. 

     Now Mamma Bear knew that Baby Bear had made a bad choice and had gotten himself into a situation that required her help. So, with much resolve she headed toward her cub, searching through the night, calling out as she moved. There was no stopping, no time to rest. She wouldn’t quit, couldn’t quit, until Baby Bear was once again by her side.

     Just as the first glimmers of daylight were breaking through the trees, Baby Bear, who had spent the night huddled in the safety of his hollowed-out tree stump, was stirred from his slumber by what he thought was a familiar growl in the distance. Immediately he sat up, shook his head and listened intently. Lifting his nose in the air, he took a couple of long sniffs. Unmistakable! All at once, fear and worry melted into relief and happiness - he knew he had been found! Mama Bear’s call steadily grew louder and louder as he moved toward the comfort of her voice. Over the bluff, between age old pines, Mamma Bear appeared and as their eyes met, Baby Bear sat and bowed his head in submission, ashamed of his disobedience. Mamma Bear, thrilled to have him back, hurried to Baby Bear’s side and lovingly nudged her cub, for she had long ago forgiven him.