546- A Shunter Sacrificing His Only Son

 While standing by a sign at a bridge, the shunter was surprised to find the train coming. He tried to give a sign to the train driver to stop as the bridge was opened but he found the hand of the signal not working. He had nothing to do but to hurry and close the bridge so that the train would not drown into the pond and all its passengers would not perish.

While closing the bridge he saw his only son playing on the railway. He had no time to go and warn him. He had to choose between closing the bridge and warning his son. There was no time for both.

The man closed the bridge to save the train and the passengers. The train passed very quickly. The shunter did not think of looking to his son for definitely he was dead.

The shunter returned home not knowing what to tell his wife. It was bitter for him to permit his son’s death. However, bitterness mixed with joy in his heart for, he was honest in his work and faithful in his love to those for whom he was responsible even if this cost him the life of his only son.

He entered his chamber, kneeled down with tears running down his cheeks without uttering a word. The image of his dead son was in front of his eyes together with the image of the passengers of the train. Suddenly he found his son in white clothes embracing him and saying, “What you did was good, father, for God raised me from the dead for your love to your brethren.”

The honesty of this shunter made him sacrifice his only son for the sake of his brethren without discussing the matter even with himself. It was necessary then for the Father, the Lover of Mankind, to sacrifice His only Son to save all Mankind.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: محولجي يضحي بابنه الوحيد.

My soul praises You O Lord.

You presented Your only Son as a sacrifice of love for my sake.

He paid the whole price joyfully to redeem me.

To You is the Glory for Your wonderful love to me.

The Wonderful Bird

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

I Knelt Down Before God