It is kinda cool how God works. My mom and stepfather Dick experienced something special and sweet. I knew I needed to write about it, but I wasn’t sure how to approach it.

Then I read Steve Roark’s article, “Fallen Baby Birds,” and knew God had given me my angle.

Now I am going to refer back to one of my previous articles: “Spider in a Blue House.” If you read it, you may remember my mom loves wind chimes. In case you didn’t read it, the spider I wrote about lived in her blue house wind chime. It is one of many which hang all around her front porch. Her most recent one is that of a white rocking chair.

Last month, mom and Dick left on a week-long trip to Florida to visit his children. When they returned, they noticed a little wren had built a nest in the seat of the rocking chair wind chime. Let me tell you, mom was ecstatic. When I stopped by to see them, she immediately showed me the nest with the three little eggs. I was just glad there were no spiders hanging around that I could see.

That weekend, Tim and I were to go to their house after church for lunch. She called us early Sunday morning: “The momma bird is sitting on her nest, so you all will have to come in through the back door. Now don’t you forget.” I assured her we wouldn’t.

Mom and I both regarded the nest as an honor and privilege for one of The Lord’s little creatures to use their home to bring more of His creation into the world.

When we reached their house, I realized just how serious mom was being. At the end of her front walkway she had placed a sawhorse with a handwritten sign: “Use Back Door.”
To be honest, when I first saw the sign, I thought the C was an R and it read. “Use Bark Door.”

The other day, mom called and told me all the babies had flown from the nest, so we could use the front door again. She went on to tell me the day before Dick checked on the nest and it was empty. That’s when he heard the cry of a baby bird. He walked around the porch and into the front yard to find it lying on the ground. This is where Steve Roark’s article comes in to play.

If you have read his article, you know he discusses baby birds falling out of their nest and what to do if you find one. For instance, it’s safe to pick up a baby songbird and place it back in the nest. To be honest, I had no idea it was okay to do that, but my stepfather did.

When Dick found the bird, he picked it up and gently laid it back in the nest. The next day he peered into the nest and it was empty. He searched the ground nearby and didn’t find the bird anywhere. It had flown away on its own.

Let me tell you, I so associated with that little baby bird. Usually, I am not one who soars on the first try. Often I feel like I crash into the ground. But while thinking about and writing this article, I realized something. God is always aware of when we succeed and when we don’t. And He allows us to fall.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” Matthew 10:29 (KJV)

When I first fall and crash, it is rather upsetting, but sometimes my falling to the ground has turned out be more of a blessing to me than if I had originally soared. For one, I learned to call out to Him and not to lean on my abilities and understanding. For another, I learned to keep trying. Just because I don’t soar on my first attempt, doesn’t mean I won’t soar the next time or the time after that.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (KJV)