Robin Reflections: Day 2

Yesterday, May 30th, I found the brave mother hunkered down in her nest.  Like a soldier on duty, our backyard robin performed sentry at her post, vigilantly on the watch for danger.

When she flew away, I was excited to discover two perfect, blue eggs.

I was reminded of the scripture from Psalms 61:4, "Let me dwell in your tent forever!  Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!  Selah".  I was thinking, how foolish it would be for the chicks to shout (from within the egg), "I am a self-made chick.  I have no need of you!"  Or even more absurd, "I can not see a mother robin, therefore it does not exist."

Perhaps Jesus felt the same frustration with the religious leaders and his people who rejected his message when He said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" Matthew 23:37

There is something comforting in trusting in Someone who is greater than ourselves.  When we don't know what the future holds, it comforts me to know the One who holds the future.  Today, those pre-hatched chicks can rest secure in knowing that a loving mother is watching over their well-being.  And I can be at peace knowing that I have an Almighty God who loves me with the fondness that ... well, that a robin has for her "children".  Perhaps King David said it best, "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." Psalms 36:7

Robin Reflections

On Memorial Day, May 28th, our neighborhood robin finished building her nest on top of a post in our backyard. I can't help but wonder if it was the same robin that built a nest in the same location last year.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the nest when it was work progress however, it was nearly finished before I first discovered it the day before.

I took a picture of the nest at 6:00am yesterday morning, May 29th:

She must have known that she was going to lay an egg soon because after I took this picture, I saw the robin perched on top of our house a singing a loud and happy song.  Yesterday evening, after I got home from work, I was thrilled to discover that she had laid a single turquoise egg:

Psalm 50:11 says, "I know every bird in the mountains ..."  I realize that there are no mountains anywhere near southeastern Iowa, however, that verse reminded me today that even though I may not know this backyard visitor, God does.  And perhaps, He even knows this robin's name.  Psalm 147:4 says, "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name."  If God knows the names of the stars, it is not hard to imagine that He knows the names of the robins as well.  It also comforts me to reflect that if God knows the name of the robin that lives in my backyard, he surely knows my name.  According to Isaiah 43:1, we find out this is indeed the case, "But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, ... 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'"