Excerpt
Let. There. Be. Light. With these four words, God began to create everything that ever was or ever will be. He hung the sun, moon, and stars in the skies. He painted the light and the darkness. Filled the oceans. Carved the mountains. The true biblical story of creation and Adam and Eve unfolded. Yet, there remained a fantastic tale, or the icing on that story, no child heard. . . until today. This untold tale begins on the fifth day, when God created the very first of His flying creatures.
The Creator, God, lifted his arms, and a sound like thunder clapping with the wind rang from his mouth. All the trees bowed under his roaring breath. Moments later, two small creatures dressed with white feathers appeared in the sky. One cooed. One chirped. Each landed on the Creator's outstretched arms.
"Yes, friends," God said, "I am happy to see you too. A very special mission awaits the two of you."
They watched God create other birds, sea creatures, and every living thing, filling the earth from high in the sky to the bottom of the oceans.
"I am Creator of all, and I love you," He winked at them and nodded, "more than you could possibly understand. You may call Me Father."
On the sixth day, the twosome perched in a beautiful tree. Poking their heads out of their cozy nest, they watched God scoop up a handful of dust from the ground.
The male cocked his head sideways and cooed, "What is He doing?"
"I don't know." She whispered as she watched Father at work.
He chattered louder.
The female nudged him with her wing. "Shhh!"
God held the dust in His hand and closed His eyes. "Let Us make man in Our own image."
The curious one inched closer to his mate. "Can we do that?"
"I don't think He means you and me, dear," she said and smiled as she brushed his beak with her wing.
"Ba-but. . ." The male mumbled on with a mouth full of feathers. "I don't even know what a man is, do you?"
The female rolled her eyes upward. "Look," she said and pointed to God.
He whispered loving words as He sprinkled the dust on the ground and created a man.
The male bird's eyes bulged and his beak fell open.
All creation fell silent, including the male bird.
And God said, "This is very good!"
Next, God planted a beautiful garden. He placed the man and all the animals in it. Calling out to His two flying friends, He said, "The time has come for your work to begin. First, lead all the animals, two by two, to the man who I named Adam. Then he will name all of you."
The bird flapped his wings and cooed, "I can't wait to get my name!"