They Leave the Nest -- But They'll Be Back

They Leave the Nest -- But They'll Be Back
For those who have followed the tales of my dove family who took up occupancy on my fireplace vent on my patio several weeks ago, I'm pleased to report the babies are on their own and have left the nest. I couldn't check on them until Monday morning since I had been away for a week and didn't get home until Sunday night. The nest was empty so I knew they had finally learned to fly and had left the nest. I saw the poop and debris left behind and determined to get out my super-powered cleaning solution and remove the nest and all the other gunk. But to my surprise, as I sat on my patio, I saw the "teenagers" (Yikes! I was surprised to see, how in just a week's time, they had grown so much!) come back home. I'm acting like a proud grandmother because I couldn't help but show you their photo! LOL! They must have remembered the kind homeowner who checked on them daily, and they were fine with my visit. I am unceasingly amazed at God’s creation.

Of course, the spiritual and natural connotations hit me in these tender moments. All of us develop, mature and become confident enough to leave the "nest" where we were nurtured and where we developed the sense of being able to make it in this world on our own. Maybe it was when we went to college or joined the armed forces, or got married, or were simply ready to tackle the world on our own. But, like those birds, many of us enjoy going back home for a while. We need that cozy, warm, safe place where we didn't have to make our own way. There were hugs and cheers and encouragement when we went home, and for many of us, we needed much more than just a short visit, we needed to stay a while and regroup and rethink where we'd go from here. We needed to get our confidence back.

Our relationship with God is similar to the birds AND us returning to our nests. Oftentimes, we're strong, making it just fine on our own, handling life and all that it throws at us. But then there are those times of disappointment, discouragement, fear and these strong spiritual beings find ourselves languishing and we need a pep talk and a shoulder to cry on and the familiarity of someone we love and trust to wrap their arms around us and tell us "Everything's gonna be alright!" We can count on our loving Father every time for that assurance, but after a little coddling, He gives us a nudge out the door (or the nest) to resume as the strong, determined, full-of-faith children He raised us to be. St. Paul said it like this: "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11

God gave us everything we need to be strong, mature, powerful and empowered overcomers in this life. He gave us every tool, every promise, every key we need for success through the cross of Christ and His Word. Romans 8:29 says "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." God lovingly welcomes us to return to His nest when we need a refresher on how much He loves and cares for us, but His Gospel message brings more than good news to us. It bids us to fly AND it gives us wings to do so!

Oh That I Had Wings Like a Dove

Tuesday morning, I read this scripture, Psalm 55:6 “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”
That reading about a dove prompted me to hasten out my back door to check on the Mama Dove, who had nested above my fireplace vent. The last I checked on her, she had two eggs in that nest. The fulfillment of her preparations, waiting and anticipating, was realized. There were two little hungry baby birds with her. Pure sweetness. I know my time is limited on keeping a watchful eye on that little dove family. Before long she’ll be teaching them about those “wings of a dove” and they will fly away.

Sometimes we echo the words of that verse, don’t we? Just to be able to fly away from our concerns and responsibilities of daily living. Just to be able to move on to a new nest or a new place that’s care-free.

That Mama Dove has taught me so many lessons. A couple of weeks ago, my post was about that dove and her patience and her, seemingly, undisturbed manner of staying and nesting while my family and I were heads down in viciously power washing my porches, barbequing our Mother’s Day meal and carrying on like like a wrecking crew. Yet, Mama Dove seemed to watch us as I’m sure that God, from His 30K+ foot view looks at us, with all our hustle and bustle and in a flurry of activity to get this and that done! She was vigilantly watching all that raucous from her safe and isolated “perch”.

Here’s what a google search says about a dove: “The dove represents peace of the deepest kind. It soothes and quiets our worried or troubled thoughts. The dove's roles as spirit messenger, maternal symbol and liaison impart an inner peace that helps us to go about our lives calmly and with purpose.” That explanation clearly goes along with the words in Isaiah 26:3 “Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Me.” No question that dove seemed to be in that perfect peace.

These times of so much to be concerned about is really no different than what Jesus and His disciples faced. Jesus cautioned His disciples, men who were just heading out to spread good news to the world, that they were doing dangerous work. He said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and HARMLESS AS DOVES. (Matthew 10:16)

To be wise like a serpent means to have keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment in dealing with people, situations AND the enemy of our souls. To discern means to detect with the eyes and with senses other than vision. It also means to read character or motives. Somehow I think that Mama Bird had that discernment. She heard my soft voice each morning and she knew I (and my family) meant her no harm.

That sweet Mama Dove is a bird of peace. A dove’s temperament is calm and its disposition is sweet. Doves really are harmless. Wise and Harmless. Yes, in this life, we will run into some times of anxiety and concern and we sure would like to “take wing like the dove” and fly away to escape it all. But, God is all about giving us the tools to make it in a crazy world like the one we live in. Those words about being wise as serpents and harmless as doves seem like wisdom for peace and success. Wise to detect and avoid danger, while living in sweet peace, gentleness, kindness and innocence. Be wise and harmless—always. Just like that Mama Dove, watching over her babies, Psalm 121:8 says “The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Whether we fly away from it all or we stay put, what blessed assurance it is that our Father sees and knows what's up ahead. Come on, my friends. Let's settle on our perch and know the peace of a dove that comes from our Father above!

This is NESTING -- Preparing, Waiting, Anticipating

This is NESTING -- Preparing, Waiting, Anticipating
On Saturday, I went outside to water some plants and I was startled by the fluttering away of a mama dove that had laid two eggs in my fireplace vent outside. I quietly left that area because I wanted her to return to her nest. Then yesterday morning, I was about to clean my BBQ grill when I looked up and there, patiently, peacefully and undisturbed was this mama dove sitting on her soon-to-be-hatched babies. How significant to see such a beautiful wonder of creation on Mother’s Day. That adoring and devoted mama was waiting, anticipating and, obviously from the well-built nest in a cozy spot, preparing for her brood. I kept going outside, and Mama had not moved from her spot. She is on a mission to bring life into this world, unconcerned at all by the bird watchers that would check her out throughout the day -- and especially, when my children and grandchildren came over to power wash my porches right near her..

We, women relate to “nesting”, not only in birds, but when we, as expectant mamas, are getting close to that day when our baby will arrive. We wake up one morning feeling energetic and have the distinct urge to clean and organize our entire house. It's that overwhelming desire to get our home ready for our new baby. Sometimes, that urge is from boredom or frustration from still being pregnant, as well as knowing that the baby’s care is going to take lots of time and energy, and we want everything to be ready before the baby arrives. I recall the excitement and anticipation of that bundle of joy AND I knew the hours of love and care that I was about to give. There would be little time for much else, so, like that mama dove, my "little nest" needed to be just right.

On this Mother’s Day, I was pondering about the thoughts I had before my babies arrived. We already had their names picked out long before their arrival day. I worked tirelessly on their nursery, being sure it all set up and ready to go for the tiny, new occupant. All the gifts of clothes, nighties, and underclothes were washed and folded into the little dresser drawers. The hanging diaper holder was filled and all the tiny items were all organized for the imminent arrival of our baby. I would open those drawers and smell that sweet baby aroma.. My house was clean. My bags, with my baby’s "going home" outfit, was packed and ready to go. With our girl's arrival, we had all the plans made for taking her big brother to Granny & Papa's to stay until we came home with her. Everything was ready for her debut. The excitement was building for the BIG day!

Though I am no longer in that “season” (Thanks be to God!) of nesting because a baby is on the way, I still find myself nesting in times of sweet reflection, peace and quiet, and really pondering God’s goodness and mercy to me. Aw, pondering. Mary, the mother of our Lord, perfected that term – she pondered all those angelic messages in her heart.

This little mama dove reminded me about the importance of "being still" nesting in our Lord. It's a given that He abides in us, but when we spend time refreshing and reviving our relationship with Him, to really know Him, His peace (like the dove) comes over us and all the clamor and activity around us is as nothing. That dove really looked like a decoy -- unshakable and unmovable. Her babies were her preeminent responsibility. Nothing else mattered.

Today some of our precious family from Winnipeg, Canada are coming for a visit. I've prepared for them. I baked and cooked and made sure my house is clean. I even ordered the hockey channel on my TV for watching our Winnipeg Jets play their second game in the Stanley Cup Western Conference finals. In essence, I’m nesting and I’m preparing, waiting, anticipating, and preparing for their arrival. Maybe “nesting” is the mindset we should always have with our relationship with Christ. Peacefully, thinking about what He means to us, being still enough to know His indescribable love for us and preparing, waiting and anticipating, with joyful sense of expectation of His return. Oh, what a DEBUT that will be!