Lessons to be learned from nesting.

For the past two years I have had some very unusual guests. The birds seem to like setting up their nests in my front porch and also in the tree right in front of my door. I did not mind having them there at all. As a matter of fact I felt honored that they would find my place so appealing. I have had at least five grand baby birds so far.

I watched as they first chose the spot that they liked. Then they began gathering the materials to make the nest. It was a demanding job and took many hours and even days to complete. It had to be just right. It needed to support and insulate the egg as well as provide concealment from predators and shelter from the rain.

When the nest was completed the bird was ready to lay her egg. Then there was a period of nesting where the bird was required to sit for days and in some cases for weeks. This was called the incubation time. The egg needed the mother's warmth for its development. The mother exhibited much patience at this time.

I noticed the father bird came by periodically to check on the progress of mother and egg. Each time he would bring food in his beak. Satisfied that everyone was okay he flew off again until the next feeding.

Finally things began to change. As soon as I saw mother and father bird coming and going I knew that the baby bird had broken out of its shell. It was time for a feeding frenzy. This went on for a week or two until it was time for the baby bird to fledge. Both mother and father huddled over the baby to make sure no predators came near it until it was able to fly away on its own.

I have always wanted desperately to witness the moment when baby bird flew away from the nest but sadly have missed it every time.

Throughout these experiences I have gained some spiritual insight into my own life. When God speaks a word or a promise to you about something he wants to accomplish in your life you become impregnated with that word. And like the bird who knows she is carrying an egg she begins to make preparation for the egg. In the same way we have to make sure the word finds good soil in our hearts conducive to its growth.

It demands constant supervision, support and insulation like the egg. Predators are another factor in the preservation of the word. There will always be people or situations that would try to snatch the promise away from reaching its fruition. That is why we need to hide the word in our heart.

Then we have to deal with the 'sitting' on the word during the incubation period. This is usually the hard part because it requires a lot of patience. Since we always want things right now and waiting is not something we like to do it can be a challenge. But wait we must with expectation. And just like the father bird comes by to check on the family and bring food so does the Holy Spirit while we are in transition.

Then when it seems like the vision is about to be birth it's not time to relax. Like the bird it's time to huddle over the vision. It is a delicate time and requires a praying through and a time of worship to see it to the end.

And even though I did not witness the baby birds fly away to freedom I pray that in my own life I would not miss all that the good Lord has in store for me.

Celia