Birds

I have recently been fascinated by two little creatures that have taken up residence on my back porch. I don't know what type of birds these are, but I can tell you that they are beautiful, sing lovely songs, and are the perfect picture of patient perseverance! I have sat and watched these birds in amazement as they build a home for their family. First, they work as a team- taking turns finding little bits of mud, no larger than a crumb. Carrying the mud in their beaks, they swoop in and perch next to their nesting ar

ea. Then they carefully and methodically peck and poke the bit of mud into just the right place, until satisfied with the result, at which point they fly away again looking for more mud.

They repeat this tedious process for hours all day long, and as I watch, it seems they make no progress at all!

What my eyes cannot see, my heart appreciates. These birds are a magnificent creation of a creative and sovereign God! It was His design for these birds to labor so long and faithfully, building their nest literally bit by bit. As I reflect on this matter, I am reminded that in a way, it would be good if I could be like these birds. If I could be satisfied to faithfully build my "nest" bit by bit, and even if the results don't appear as quickly as I like, to persevere. If I were that bird, I'd fly around forever looking for a chunk of mud big enough that I could call my nest. I'd quickly fly to my other bird friends and about how fast I had "made" my nest while they were still labo

ring over theirs! I would complain about how long it was taking to make the nest....What a silly bird I would make!

Yet it seems that right now, God has me building my own nest- minuscule piece by minuscule piece. It's hundreds of little decisions I must make every day- and choose to make the ones that glorify God. How will I respond to my 8 month old waking me up in the middle of the night again? How will I respond to my 4 year-old's endless and enthusiastic questions all day? How will I respond to planning a move; to scheduling vaccinations and shots; to sick children; to preparing for a month in Kenya this summer; to preparing to home school Mia; etc.?! Will I complain, worry, and stress about all the details and the unknown of it all? Or will I faithfully move forward each day, pecking one more bit of mud into the beautiful nest God has me making?

What kind of bird will you be?