What we thought a disability..

15 years ago a stranger came to our small village and lived in a cottage near the bush. No one knew where he came from and no one dared to ask. 

He spent the time weaving rugs in his cottage. Every week he went to the market to sell the rugs and buy his needs. 

Despite his hunchback and his struggle to walk, His sincere genuine smile never left his face.
His kindness, gentleness  and willingness to help everyone attracted the villagers admiration. But what surprised them most was his cheerfulness & joyfulness.

Over time, His hunchback got bigger and bigger to the point that his back bent sharp angle forward with his face almost facing the ground. His huge curved back appeared to be a burden on his body and made his steps even slower. Yet his smile never left his face and he always looked cheerful and joyful as ever. 

I was 16 years old boy when I dared to knock at his door, deciding to ask him about the secret of his joy.

The stranger: "If you want to know my secret then you need to wait and watch outside my cottage one whole night! If you could stay awake until the dawn then you will know!"

Mm.. That was not the answer I expected! But I decided to do whatever was needed to know the stranger's secret.

So I went that night to the stranger's cottage and chose a near-by tree to rest my back against, where I could face his cottage. 

One hour passed, 2 hours passed, Nothing was happening, I started feeling tired and bored.. and just before midnight I fell a sleep! It was the next morning when I first opened my eyes.

The following night I went to the same tree facing the cottage. This time I brought with me a basket full of food to help keep me awake. I rested my back against the tree and started eating. I finished my food and stayed alert and watching. Unfortunately, It did not last for long.. and again just before midnight I fell asleep!

On the third night, I came with another plan! I brought a string, I tied the string to my hair and to the tree, So if I slept my head would fall down, and the strings would pull my hair and wake me up. 

This time my plan seemed to be working and I was able to stay awake!
Time passed so slowly, It was almost midnight and nothing happened. I started feeling tired and bored.

Just After midnight, I saw shiny bright spots in the sky coming from far and as they came closer and closer I could see them clearer. They were a host of angels coming down. They landed just in front of the cottage. 

The cottage door opened and the stranger - struggling to walk - stepped out slowly. He greeted his visitors and had a short conversation with them which I was too far to hear.
Then the angels started to help him taking off his coat. 

From my place, I could see - under his coat - there were 2 big folded wings! 

What a surprise! His hunchback turned out to be 2 big heavy wings that were perfectly folded!

Free from his coat, The stranger was able to stand in a relief with his back straight. He looked tall, strong and fit! He stretched his wings wide open, so did his visitors. Then they all started to fly! They flew far towards the sky until I could not see them any more.

I stayed in my place in shock, surprise and deep thinking. I kept staring at the sky without a blink.  

Just before the dawn, I saw the shiny bright spots again, The angles were coming from far. The stranger was flying among them. They landed in front of the cottage and helped the stranger folding his wings back and putting on his coat.

He had another short conversation with them, then with a warm smile, He waved goodbye while they were flying back to sky.

Still in my place shocked, I uttered in a low voice: 

"What we thought a disability .. was his sacred secret of happiness!"