Consider the Birds of the Sky

Over the weekend, in the sweltering heat of this summer, my family had a little excitement in our garden. A fledgling robin dropped from the massive maple tree which overlooks the garden in our back yard. When we looked for the nest, we spotted it on a branch about 50 feet up, much too high to reach with any ladder we had available. Now the garden is about thirty by fifteen feet, though by no means the largest section of the yard. It's surrounded by a simple chicken wire fence, held up by studded T-posts. 

Now the interesting thing about this bird's landing is that it came down just inches inside the fence. It was spotted by my wife just after the rest of us (my mother, two sisters, and daughter of 3) had come in from the heat. It sat, hungry, in the most exposed corner of the garden. The sun was beaming down, cooking the yard, and this little robin sat in the hottest, open corner the garden allowed. Our first reaction to this was to get a box or something and take care of him, but with a little reconsideration, we decided to leave him alone for some time and keep an eye on him. From inside the house, we watched out the kitchen window to see what would happen to the little guy. In no time, his mother was seen in the tree above, quietly chirping and scanning the area. She took a while to actually fly down to her fledgling, but in time she began a sort of routine. She would sit on different parts of the fence and watch for threats, then the tree, then down to grab some bugs or worm, then swoop down and feed her babe before retreating to repeat the cycle. I watched her do this a good portion of the evening and the next morning. Eventually the fledgling grew courageous and hopped around the garden in exploration. He would move to more shaded areas under the cucumber or bean plants to cool off, and then back to his exposed corner for feedings. I can only assume he is still doing this while I sit now at work.

This whole experience got me thinking about Matthew 6:25-26:

“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?

This bird had fallen from the safety of his nest, a good 50 feet to land just inside of a fenced in garden. Unable yet to fly, he is trapped inside until his wings have matured a bit further. Until then he will rely on the mother bird delivering food to him, while presumably taking care of other siblings still up in the tree. Of all places to fall, he landed in a garden, with plants for cover, bugs and worms for food, and a fence around to keep away predators until he is capable of escape. Our first thought was to remove him from the garden and let him roam, but God, in His wisdom and care, placed that vulnerable creature in relative safety by a meager few inches. Had he landed three inches to the north, he would likely have been lunch for one of our outdoor cats within an hour or two. 

"Aren't you worth more than they?"

In so many instances in my life I have come so very close to total destruction and death, usually by my own poorly thought out actions. And so very many times, God has made sure of my safety and continuation. So many times He has blessed me, even in my rebellion, because of His overwhelming love for me and all who I may still encounter with whom I can share His love and testimony. Sometimes it takes seeing a subtle gesture in someone (or something) else's life to bring our hearts back to the reality of our Savior's love and great plan for every part of His creation.

I pray you (who ever might read this) are able to see such subtle blessing spread through your day and take heart when other things might not go as you desire. God has a plan, and you are part of it.

God Bless