The Mockingbird That Sang Beethoven

A minister friend of mine shared this terrific story of how even the smallest act has an effect, changing the world to some degree.

Bonnee Joy, a gifted composer, died in the prime of life. At her memorial service, a friend told of how a mockingbird used to sing regularly outside Bonnee's window on summer nights.

Bonnee would stand at her bedroom window, peering into the darkness, listening intently, marveling at the beautiful songs the mockingbird sang. Then, musician that she was, Bonnee decided to sing back. So she whistled the first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. With amazing quickness the mockingbird learned these four notes and sang them back to Bonnee. And in perfect pitch, Bonnee was astonished. Then, for a time the bird disappeared. But one night, toward the very end of her life when Bonnee was so terribly sick, the bird returned and, in the midst of other songs, several times sang those first four notes of Beethoven's 'Fifth.'

The beloved friend telling this story at the Memorial Service said, with tears in her eyes, "I like to think of that now, somewhere out there is a mockingbird who sings Beethoven because of Bonnee.

Comments

[Beryl Singleton Bissell]

What a beautiful story and exquisite ending. A song that lives on. Perhaps that bird will teach others to sing the first four notes of the fifth.

[Carla]

Yes, wouldn't that be great! And Beethoven is smiling from the great beyond. :-)