Her Chicks
When I was a little girl, my mom and I would watch birds from the windows of our home as they built nests in my mom’s many birdhouses, in camellia shrubs, or wherever they decided to make their temporary home. So, it was a gift to me when a momma robin made her nest outside my boys’ bedroom window, and I got to watch with my children the stages of care and nurture this mother bird gave her four babies. For the past several weeks, we watched four beautiful blue eggs become hatchlings then fledglings. We would check on the birds every day after school and at bedtime. We marveled at each stage of development. (The image on this post is one of the many pictures I took of the robins.) We watched feedings, the mom and dad robin hunt for worms in our yard, the mom regurgitate her meal to feed her babies, and the fledged chicks hop around in our yard. My mom was even in town during part of this particular robin’s family growth, so she got to experience with her grandsons what she used to experience with me.
My Chicks
The boys recently asked to meet with one of our pastors because they want to take communion, which in our church means you need to be able to vocalize your faith in Christ. I set the appointment then sat in the room as the pastor met with each of them one at a time. I listened to their responses to good questions and beamed inside. After this dear pastor asked each of them about sin, why they needed a master, and could they achieve salvation themselves, he said – I think they really get it.
Around this same time, I remember looking at the empty robin’s nest outside my boys’ bedroom window, realizing that my husband and I have ten more years with them until they are out of our nest. I instantly felt sadness as my heart raced to not being with them on a daily basis and as mind raced to all they need to know before they leave the nest. Then, I had a flashback to the meeting with the pastor. I realized yes, they will fledge my nest, but they will always be under the Father’s wing.
Who We Will Never Fledge
My children, as any believer, will never fledge from the care of the Lord. He is always there providing refuge. I remember one of my seminary professors saying Exodus 12 in the Hebrew describes God as hovering over his people, the Israelites, at Passover to protect them from the angel of death. God spreads his wings over his children like the mother robin sat over her chicks.
19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues. ~Psalm 31
I don’t need to be a hovering mama because my God hovers over my children. My chicks will fledge my nest, but they will always be in the cover of Christ’s presence. He will always store them in his shelter.