Why Saint Francis Loves the Birds most of all

St. Francis of Assisi loved all the birds and animals of the world. They
were his special charges. Daily he would sit in the garden and the birds
would perch on his shoulders, the squirrels would cuddle on his lap. The
rabbits and foxes and the animals of the forest would sit at his feet.
All the animals adored him.
St. Francis was especially fond of a small bird who would sit in his
window and wake him in the morning with his sweet song. In the evening
the little bird would again sit in the window and his sweet song would
lull St Francis to sleep.
Each day St Francis would save the crumbs from his breakfast for his
good friend, the little bird. The little bird would accompany St.
Francis on his daily chores and would cheer him up with a song when St
Francis seemed sad. The little bird would sing with joy when St. Francis
smiled.
One day the little bird went to the window to waken his friend with a
song, only to find that St. Francis was not there. Puzzled, the little
bird asked of the squirrels "Where is our good friend?" the rabbits did
not know. Then the little bird asked the wisest of creatures, the owl,
"where is our good friend?" the owl looked sadly on the little bird and
said " He has gone to join his father." The little bird smiled and said
"Then I shall go and join him also!"
The owl told the little bird " No my little friend. St. Francis has gone to
heaven. Only humans can go to heaven. You must stay here on the earth
with us."
The little bird drooped his wings and began to cry, so sad to think that
he would never see his friend again. Suddenly, he lifted his head and
dried his tears. "there must be some way that I can get to Heaven too!"
"Tell me", he asked the owl. "Where is Heaven?" "Oh, little bird", said
the owl, "it is so far up in the sky that you could never reach it with
your tiny wings!" I can do it! Whispered the little bird to himself. "I
MUST DO IT!"