Out Of The Nest

I was going to spend time with my granddaughter.
My daughter was tutoring a few students in the morning.
I drove over to pick up my granddaughter and bring her home to Grandma’s house.
The car seat was already in the back seat.

I got up quite early so that I could still walk.
I got a quick shower.
I had my morning routine things to do.
One of the first things I had to do was water my plants.

Two hanging baskets of geraniums with another cascading flower were not looking good.
I had been noticing the brown leaves.
They had flourished all summer.
There was something just not right.

I made the decision to take them down from the hooks on which they were hanging.
Now the spot looks so empty.
I am not going to replace them now as summer winds down.
I made a mental note to get another type of plant next year.

I went out to my porch to water the hanging baskets there.
I knew that the one towards the back of the porch had a bird’s nest inside.
Many mornings the mother bird flew out as I began to water the flowers.
The first time she did that, I was so startled, but I got used to seeing her.

I learned how to water that plant.
I learned where to point the hose.
I remembered the direction she always flew.
I stayed far back to give her space.

Something happened on this particular morning.
Of course, it happened on the morning I needed to get out early.
When the first spray of water went into the plant, three baby birds fell out.
I saw one fall on the grass; one fell right on the porch, the other one I could not see.

I was so upset.
I left some wiggle room in my morning, so I would not be late.
This already happened once before in another plant in another location.
That day there was only one bird; this day there were three.

I went inside and got a pair of purple gloves used for furniture refinishing.
I went back outside and got to work.
I went along the porch wall and saw the first baby bird.
I bent down to pick it up with my gloved hands.

This little bird did not want to be picked up.
This little bird fought me with all its might.
Let me help you; please let me help you, I said to the little bird as if it could understand.
I somehow picked up the bird by its legs, making it unable to wiggle in my hand.

I carried it carefully back on the porch and placed it in the nest.
The little bird sat there among the plant leaves.
I could see it breathing heavy.
I am sure it was very frightened.

I knew that I had two more to rescue.
The second bird was much easier than the first.
This little bird tried to flap its wings a bit.
However, this little bird did not fight me.

I successfully put the second bird in the nest.
It got close to the first bird.
They were perfectly camouflaged in the leaves.
This little bird was also breathing heavy.

I had one more bird to find.
I knew the bird that fell on the porch hopped off the back end behind the porch swing.
I walked around to the place I thought it would be.
There it was, terribly frightened, staying very close to the porch wall.

I took my gloved hands and cupped them ready to pick up the bird.
It fought me a little bit but nothing like the first one.
I walked around and back up on the porch.
I put the last bird in the nest.

I prayed that the mother bird would come back.
I prayed that my scent was not on the little birds.
When my husband came downstairs to leave for work, I told him what happened.
Let me see, he said walking towards the door.

As I approached the side door which leads out to the porch, I looked out.
As I turned the lock to open the door, the mother bird flew out of the nest.
She came back, I said, so happy that the rescue mission had been successful.
We went over tho look inside the plant; the little birds were there.

American radio broadcaster, Paul Harvey, once told a modern parable about a religious skeptic who worked as a farmer. One raw winter night the man heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass. Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through the fresh snow to open the barn door for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights and tossed some hay in a corner. But the sparrows, which had scattered in all directions, when he emerged from the house, hid in the darkness, afraid. The man tried various tactics to get them into the barn. He laid down a trail of saltine cracker crumbs to direct them. He tried circling behind the birds to drive them towards the barn. Nothing worked. He, a huge, alien creature, had terrified them; the birds couldn’t comprehend that he actually desired to help. The farmer withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like lightning from a clear blue sky. If only I could become a bird – one of them – just for a moment. Then I wouldn’t frighten them so. I could show the the way to warmth and safety. At the same moment, another thought dawned on him. He had grasped the reason Jesus was born.
(Taken from NIV student Bible; insight on Mark 4:41)

I remembered Paul Harvey’s story that I had read many years ago.
I had lived that story out on my side porch.
Let me help you; please let me help you.
I seemed to be coming after the little  birds, when I only wanted to save them.

Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in an appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 6-11)

Jesus became one of us to show us the way Home.
Lesson learned.
 

2 responses to “Out Of The Nest”

1. Wonderful story and lesson! We need to constantly thank Jesus that He was willing to become like us to bring His message of mercy. Hope the little birds are still OK– I’ve had birds build nests in unlikely places too and once couldn’t use my front door for a while!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     As of yesterday, the little birds were there.
     What a lesson!
     Gina

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