Abandoned

The wrens who built a nest

abandoned that nest,

once filled with hopes and dreams

where they worked as a team,

when I resumed yard work eagerly

after being waylaid by surgery.

I felt sad when they left,

feeling a little bereft,

missing their comical entertainment,

unaware they were the source of amusement,

as they stuffed twigs in the hole.

Industrious little souls.

They would figure out how to maneuver the twig,

then arrange it carefully in their new digs.

If the twig fell to the ground

they would quick nosedive down.

Determined they were,

these little creatures.

And for each accomplishment

they sang an accompaniment -

filling the air with song,

righting any wrongs,

bringing much cheer

with music dear.

Sometimes, though, one’s spouse wasn’t happy with the placement

and with the other would have a disagreement.

You could tell by the tone

of their discordant sound.

Fortunately the disagreement

would only last half a minute.

Don’t know why the nest was abandoned

after working so hard to make a home.

Perhaps the neighborhood cat was seen

crossing the yard on grass of green.

Nevertheless, I miss their song

as the scale was song quite often.

How I missed them,

those little wrens.

The nest abandoned

through rains and wind.

Through sunny days and chilly nights

the nest sat empty day and night.

This week a couple of wrens are back

building a nest in the birdhouse out back.

It seems he searched for a home in a safe neighborhood,

then she joined in working beside him as a partner should.

Last night I heard mama wren scolding him

as I hammered away causing commotion.

I was fearful that they would abandon

this birdhouse that they chose for a home,

but thankfully this morning I heard his song –

a melody of musical notes strung out long

for each bird has their personal bird call,

a happy chorus that never sounds dull.

The nest, once abandoned, will be full of happy memories

and, I’m sure, will elicit more comical bird stories.

Can’t wait to hear the babies cheep, cheep, cheep

or maybe they will chant tweet, tweet, tweet.

In the meantime I’ll listen for papa’s call

when the day begins at dawn and ends when dusk falls.

* * * * *

Do you think God ever feels abandoned?

Don’t we leave God out of the equation,

until troubles around us are pressing

causing us worry and ceaseless stressing?

When we’re at the end of our rope we try praying

asking God to hurry up, to send us His blessings,

but in the meantime God is abandoned

until we find we want something at random.

We know

in our soul

that despite our abandoning God, God will never abandon us.

We know we can always trust that God will faithfully hear us.

Yet, time after time we abandon

He whose heart would be gladdened

if we were consistent in our relationship

with Christ the Lord who is worthy to be worshiped.

Abandon could have a positive connotation,

one of unrestrained daily, passionate communication,

simply by making our every thought a prayer

by thanking and praising God who’s always there.

Which definition of abandon will you choose?

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Look to the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always.

Psalm 105:3, 4

I love those who love me,

and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:17

You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.

Revelation 4:11

Life Is a Garden Party

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Regarding wrens: one year the birdhouse they chose fell apart due to rainy and windy weather. Four little hatch-lings were clustered together in the remains on the ground. It had to have been a jolt to land. All day mama and papa wren were enticing their youngsters to relocate. I heard them in the window well, under the deck, in the side yard, in the front yard, in the forsythia, finally in the thicket across the road by the creek. It was an exhausting journey, not only for the 4 youngsters, but for mama and papa to corral and encourage with noisy musical notes to try a little harder, to fly a little further. These young ones were feathered out, but had not developed their wings. These parents were determined to provide a safe environment for their family. I’ve thought many times that birds have much to teach us about life. These parents, though not always the kindest birds to others in the bird kingdom, were the best parents they could be. That birdhouse has been repaired with Liquid Nails. Will their little bird brains remember it’s not a safe place to raise a family? I’ll just have to wait to see.

It must have been a favorite place to raise a family, there under the red crab apple, for this year another family took residence there. My backyard was filled with a symphony from many visiting birds and bees.