Return to Paradise

By Frank Scott and Nisa Montie

The Professor will be so happy. We have proven that the Virtues really do work to create Return to Paradise, Happy the Bluebird chattered excitedly.

If Happy and Bright-Wings the Cardinal could have seen just behind their backs, they would have noticed that inside each of their backpacks was a glowing Virtue stone. Bright and steady as a star, each stone shone with the word Wonder.

Thank you, God, Professor Tortoise whispered to herself. Then she looked out the window, saying, Thank you, Happy and Bright-Wings, to the two birds as they flew in through the window of her office, for the Virtue Mission accomplished.

Time for a party! exclaimed Happy.

Good idea, said Bright-Wings. Professor Tortoise, do you happen to have a bowl of water around? I am quite thirsty.

Here you go. A big bowl of sparkling, clear water for both of you. Lets celebrate Return to Paradise, said the beaming Professor. So they did.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Dec 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504345064

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 Frank Scott and Nisa Montie.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-4504-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-4505-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-4506-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015918704

Balboa Press rev. date: 12/07/2015

Contents

How Happy the Bluebird and Bright-Wings the Cardinal Began Their Virtue Adventures

Chapter I Little by Little

Chapter II Kindness

Chapter III Loyalty

Chapter IV Courtesy

Chapter V Orderliness

Chapter VI Peace

Chapter VII Steadfastness

Chapter VIII Strength of God’s Love

Chapter IX Compassion Celebration

Chapter X Contentment

Chapter XI Generosity

Chapter XII Intuition

Chapter XIII Integrity

Chapter XIV Purity

Chapter XV God’s Love

Our Story Comes to a Close—For Now

How Happy the Bluebird and Bright-Wings the Cardinal Began Their Virtue Adventures

The Professor’s Home Town—Paradise

Professor A.H. Tortoise sat in her office with her two young anthropology students—Happy the Bluebird and Bright-Wings the Cardinal. The two-hundred-year-old Tortoise was telling the two bird friends about the town she had grown up in,

Yup, she said, settling her legs and huge shell more comfortably on the Oriental rug intricately adorned with red, purple, and green embroidered flowers, birds, and trees, The town of Paradise where I grew up as a little tike really was a paradise. Happy and Bright-Wings sat on two tiny wooden stools across from their esteemed professor—heads cocked, listening.

What do you mean? chirped Happy.

See that plaque on the wall? The Professor nodded her head to their right towards a highly polished object into which words and floral motifs were intricately carved. It was my great great grandparents’ treasure—made entirely of silver cedar wood.

Let me see what’s written on it, Bright-Wings said as he flew closer, followed by Happy, who echoed,

Me, too. The Cardinal and Bluebird began reading the words that had been lovingly carved into the borders of the sacred wood:

"Compassion," "Wisdom," "Love of God" ….

That’s right! broke in their favorite Professor in her solemn voice, with one long blink. Do you know what those words are speaking about? she asked, looking at her feathered students. Happy and Bright-Wings looked quizzically at each other, then at their teacher. Adeline H. Tortoise chuckled softly. Nine years at the University of Animalia, and they have neglected to teach the most important values—the Virtues! Slowly she shook her pointed head.

An Independent Study Project

You know, the ancient Tortoise mused, "when I was growing up in Paradise, we learned about the Virtues in pre-school and kindergarten. We even received a gold star each time we used a Virtue to help others in the community. That way, everyone was always eager to be Kind, Compassionate, and Generous, not to mention Tolerant and Open-Minded. We received two gold stars if we Loved God in our hearts (which required the Virtue of Truthfulness to speak about).We all knew that if we didn’t love the Creator who created us from Divine Love, we wouldn’t have room in our hearts for the rest of the Virtues."

"I bet your star collection was really large, as you are a really nice Professor," her Bluebird student chirped with admiration.

Why, thank you, Happy, her teacher said modestly.

Is Paradise still like that—a place where Virtues are practiced? Bright-Wings asked eagerly. "I’d like to