Children

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Megan the white dove waited patiently at the upper deck window as she looked for the return of her mate, Eean. The rest of the animals were getting restless. They had not been on dry ground ever since the day the Lord sent the flood.

Megan had a dream the night before that she was resting on an olive tree. She could almost taste the fresh olives in her beak. She wondered how Eean was doing out there. This time, he was out for a much longer time.

As evening approached, the animals began to speculate among themselves that Eean might be lost out there. Some said Eean might have drowned when he slipped. But Megan was still hopeful that Eean would return. She knew that he would never leave his dear mate behind. Suddenly, they heard the excited voices of Noah and his sons. They looked up and saw Eean perched on Noah’s finger.

“Look, Eean has returned. And behold, there is a fresh olive leaf in his beak!” Fran, the giraffe shouted in excitement.

Every man and animal in the ark was greatly pleased by Eean’s return and discovery. It was clear that the water had begun to recede.

Noah and his family began to dance in the ark and sing praises to the Lord for He had made the water subside from the earth. It was a joyous celebration for both man and animals. When they partook in the evening meal, Noah and his family gave thanks to the Lord for remembering them.

That night, the animals invited Eean to sit with them to give them an account of his adventure. Eean proudly sat in the middle of the barn, surrounded by all the animals, big and small, as they fixed their eyes on him eagerly to hear his story.

Eean cleared his little throat as he looked on his massive audience nervously. As he caught the sight of lovely Megan, he calmed a little and spoke.

“Dear fellow animals, as you know, Noah sent me out of the ark seven days ago. But I had to return shortly because the earth was still full of water and I could not find a place to rest my feet. Huma who had gone before me will testify to that” At this point, Huma the raven flapped his wings as he nodded to what Eean had said.

“This day before Noah sent me out again, I heard him whispered a prayer to the Lord. He said, ‘Dear Lord, please remember your creation and bring us to the dry land.’ After that, he let me go and I flew to the north.” Eean continued his story.

“I saw that the land surrounding the ark was still covered with water but I flew on. I trusted that the Lord will hear the prayer of Noah.” By now, Eean was confident in his speech and the animals listened attentively.

“It was a long flight and I had gone further than my last trip. Half a day passed and I was tired. Then I remembered my dear Megan and it gave me strength to fly on.” Megan blushed as Eean glanced at her direction.

“Go on, lovey dovey!” Some of the animals shouted out to him.

“Erm… sorry. Anyway, it was not long after I turned northeast when I spotted something green from afar. When I came upon the olive tree, I rested my tired wings. The smell of green leaves refreshed me. I saw that there were more olive trees around. All were still half submerged in the water and I could not reach the olive fruit, so I took one of the leaves.” Eean finished the rest of the account of his flight back to the ark and the animals were filled with hope.

That next morning, Eean brought Megan aside and said to her, “Noah will send me out again. If I find dry land, I will not return so Noah knows that the water has completed receded. When you are out of the ark, you must fly northeast to find me.” Megan agreed.

Seven days later, Noah sent Eean out of the ark again. This time, Eean knew where to head for. He saw dry land for the first time in the year and he rested on one tree nearby to wait for Megan and the rest.

Finally there came a time when the land had completely dried. The Lord asked Noah and his family to bring all the animals out of the ark and ordered them all to multiply and fill the earth. Then in His mercy, the Lord set the rainbow as a sign of His promise that He will not destroy the earth with a flood again.

After the animals were released, Megan flew northeast till she saw Eean resting on the tree. She told Eean of the Lord’s promise and as they pondered upon the rainbow that appeared before them, they were grateful for what the Lord had done.

Many years went by since the animals re-populated the earth. They told the story of Noah's ark to their children and of the grace of the Lord who saved them from the flood.

They sang a new song to the Lord, which till this day the animals still sing.

The rain came down
The ark went out
We stayed afloat
In Noah’s barn

Day by day
We count each grace
The Lord gave us
To live the day

Then came a time
The water flows
Out of the land
From high to low

A dove came home
With a leaf he gives
A happy chirp
Was hope for all

The Lord calls out
To Noah’s ark
Come out all
To fill the earth

And all who lives
To see the day
A rainbow’s end
Will keep us safe

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