NESTS
In
the crab apple tree sits a nest
where
last year blue jays built a twig nest
to
raise their family
nestled
quite cozily.
All
through the winter the nest was seen
after
the tree dropped its leaves of green.
Some
days piled high when the snow flew.
Other
days swayed when a wind blew through.
But
the nest was built high in the crotch
where
it remained secure in its notch
to
withstand many of nature's storms -
rather
snow, rain, or wind storms.
This
spring morning a gray mourning dove and her husband
were
seen taking up residence in the nest abandoned.
There
they sat nestled side by side
though
the nest isn't very wide.
Cuddled
in their new home
in
the treetop enthroned.
I
wonder if their coo-coo was in agreement?
If
they asked for my vote, it would be agreement.
For
in a few weeks
babies
might peek -
quite
curious
and
serious.
Making
up their minds
if
I'm a foe or kind.
Soon
they will fly;
I'll
want to cry.
Some
day I will learn;
for
each year I mourn
when
babies fly the coop
leaving
me behind to cope.
*
* * * *
Have
you ever watched a feathered family
raise
their brood of fledglings up in the heavenlies?
They
have a lesson to teach us.
These
life lessons are a must.
You'll
learn it takes a mother and a father
to
raise a brood of fledglings together.
These
parents work together to build a secure nest or home.
After
the nest is prepared, they give birth to daughters and sons.
Together
they take turns sitting,
talking,
planning, dreaming, waiting.
Then
when the babies are hatched
the
real work begins in their thatch.
Every
hour or so one flies in
with
a yummy dinner or a drink brings.
The
babies beaks open wide
while
one parent is seen nigh.
That
parent keeps a keen look out
for
whatever danger is about.
They
they change places, for taking care of their little ones
is
too big of a responsibility for just one.
They have much to teach
in
just two weeks
all
their birdbrain knows
to
their babies who grow.
Though
human parents have many more years
to
teach their children what's right or what to fear,
even
though sometimes children seem outside their reach,
feathered
parents have the same lessons to teach.
When
human fledglings mature
after
being nurtured
parents
have a hard time adjusting
to
the now empty-nest syndrome.
Feathered
parents
learn
to adjust,
just
as human parents
must
someday adjust.
*
* * * *
How
quickly the years went by.
Too
soon it's time to say bye-bye.
Though
children think they have learned,
they
soon find out there's still much to learn.
Here's
a lesson to remember:
kids
know it all as a teenager.
At
20 or so they know they know more than their parents.
Around
30 or so they realize they had smart parents.
At
40 they find out they didn't know it all.
Around
50 they know they'll never know it all.
And
that there's something new to learn everyday
if
they have an eager mind to learn each day.
So if you think your situation
is hopeless, it's not.
Give
your child a chance to learn and one day what was taught
will
come full circle.
A
prayed-for miracle.
Train
up a child in the way he should go
and
when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs
22:6 (KJV)
These
commandments that I give you today
are
to be upon your hearts.
Impress
them on your children.
Talk
about them when you sit at home
and
when you walk along the road,
when
you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy
6:6-7
Five
sparrows are sold for two pennies.
Yet
not one of them is forgotten by God.
Indeed
the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Don't
be afraid;
you
are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke
12:6-7
Look
at the birds of the air;
they
do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are
you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew
6:26
Not the nest spoken about in the above story.
Life Is a Garden Party
is available via Amazon.
