Bird-Kindergarten

A cold winter storm is blowing through southern California today, yet I see an abundance of birds at the bird-feeders in our garden.  All of the activity reminds me of one morning last spring when there was also a lot of activity out there – lots of birds singing and chattering away as they waited their turn at the feeders,  many arriving in pairs at our fountains. There’s always activity in our garden, but that day was unusual with lots of extra wing fluttering and so much chirping that I was compelled to see what the ruckus was about.

As I watched in the warm sunlight I slowly realized that these were baby birds recently fledged from their nests and they were being trained by their moms in basic life skills.  We were having bird kindergarten!

A young house finch watched her mom jump onto our filigreed fountain, take a sip of water and then dip and shake, taking her morning bath.  This precious young one, clinging to the dry fountain edge, soon dipped her head into the water while shaking her wings and body, trying to copy her mom’s movements.  Only her head made it into the water as she dipped, so no water flew when she shook, but she as learning , taking baby-bird steps into adult house finch life.   

Nearby another mom and young finch were at the bird-feeder.  The mom took seeds in her bill, cracked the shell open and ate the tasty seed-meat inside.  The youngster watched for a short time but then began chirping and fluttering his wings just as he had done in the nest, opening his mouth wide.  I don’t speak “house finch” but I knew he was saying, “Feed me, Mom!  Feed me! I’m hungry and this looks yummy!”  The mom ignored him for a little while, letting him watch her, waiting to see if he’d follow her lead and feed himself.  But he didn’t and soon she fed him as he waited beside her.  Had he not acted this way it would not have been easy for me to tell that he wasn’t a mature house finch, able to feed himself.

As I watched this activity and even more that was happening that spring day, I thought about God’s loving, caring provision for me.  He is like these finch parents that teach their young how to live and survive in this world.  He takes delight in His children as we dwell in the shadow of His wings. He is so patient with us yet He wants us to grow up and learn how to live with the life-skills He gives us, praying with Him, reading His word and standing firm in trials.  

Hebrews 5:12-14 states: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.  You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.  But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Lord, grow me strong in your word, taking me from milk to solid food.  Help me follow your perfect example and live as you want me to live each day.