398- Are my Eyes those of a Dog?

 

St-Takla.org Image: A dog's head - Animal Day 2017, Dublin, Ireland - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, May 14, 2017 صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: رأس كلب - من صور يوم الحيوانات 2017، دبلن، أيرلندا - تصوير مايكل غالي لموقع الأنبا تكلاهيمانوت، 14 مايو 2017

Pachomious was a teenager worshiping idols. He asked his father to carry food for the farmers working in his father’s farm. At sunset, the farmers and the shepherd were worried about the return of the boy in the dark. Therefore, they prepared a tent for him to spend the night. One of the shepherds had two beautiful daughters who waited until everyone went to bed. Slowly one of them went to the young man’s tent. As soon as Pachomious saw her, he knew that she was trying to instigate him. He said to her, “Are my eyes those of a dog to sleep with my sister?” Seeing that he was such a pure-hearted person, she left.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: هل عيناي عينيْ كلب؟

The idol worshiping boy refused to sleep with his sister,

Lest he be like a dog that joins more than one female.

He, in a subtle way, behaved in purity,

For that the heaven chose him to be the angel of God.

He believed and was baptized and he enjoyed the work of the Holy Spirit.

His spirit was elevated to heaven,

Others were lifted up with him to the true purity.

We need Your grace to have the eyes of angels not the eyes of dogs.

Be Kind to Unbelievers

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

A Gift from Australia