396- It’s Worth Taking a Photo

In a Coptic gathering in Jersey City, they were telling stories. Said Wadi who had an experience in serving among students’ hostels at Alexandria:

I was visiting the late Nazmi barsoom, deacon of St. George church in sporting, then came Father Pishoy Kamel accompanied by Father Luke Sidaros who was laughing. The deacon asked, “Why are you laughing father Luke?”

He replied, “Ask Father Pishoy. It’s worth taking a photo and sending it to Pope Shenouda.”

At last, father Luke told the following story:

Father Pishoy took me to visit a lady that recently gave birth. She was living in the 5th floor. As we reached there, Father Pishoy congratulated her for the newborn baby.

The lady said, “It’s suppertime and I won’t let you go without food. I’ll prepare a goose.” Father Pishoy said to her in a fatherly way, “I’d get my share uncooked.”

“You take the whole goose with you” said the lady.

Father Pishoy accepted the goose. He hid it in his wide sleve holding its beak so that it wouldn’t make noise. Father Pishoy walked few blocks, in a totally different direction to where we have to go; he went up the stairs till the 6th floor, where he found kids crying.

“Why are you crying?”

“We’re hungry. We asked our mother to give us some food but she told us to pray. How can we pray while being hungry?”

“Don’t be afraid, Jesus sent you the food you need.”

Father Pishoy said to me, “Stay with the kids and tell them stories while I help the mother prepare the food.”

Father Pishoy slaughtered the goose to help the mother to prepare the food for her hungry children. I wish we had a camera to take a photo of Father Pishoy while slaughtering the goose. We would have then sent a copy to the pope and kept the other in the church.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: محتاجة إلى صورة!

Truly several of Father Pishoy’s behavior needed a picture,

Just to photograph his fatherly heart.

I shall not hesitate to say,

“The heavenly hosts were rejoicing for his kindness and his love for all.

It is a scene that pleases both angels and people.”

Abraham, his Son and his Donkey

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Be Kind to Unbelievers