Taking Flight.
We have a room air conditioner in our family room. It sits in the top window, cools things down nicely on those really hot, muggy days and nights(like tonight) when the breeze coming through the sliding glass door to our deck and the open windows do not provide the cooling cross ventilation that can be so refreshing on a summer day, or night.
Each year, a mama bird builds herself a nest on top of that air conditioner, just outside the window. It clings there during the late winter storms of March, the heavy rains of April, the uncertain weather that May can bring. While the air conditioner wears it's winter cover on the inside of the house, on the outside there is a mama robin sitting on that nest. She holds on for dear life - not just her own, but that of her yet unborn babies. She leaves only once or twice a day for food, or waits for the daddy bird to bring it to her.
When God - in His remarkable compassion and perfect timing - finally allows the patience of the mother bird to be rewarded and those tiny blue eggs give way to fuzzy little creatures, we begin a new watch of the nest. The view is different.
Ron, from his study window and while he surfs online for places we will be taking our RV to, can see the amazing picture change each day as he sees those baby birds peaking their tiny little beaks above the shelter of the nest. And soon, he hears their little peeps as they squawk at their mom for food.
Then, before we realize it, it's time for them to take flight; they leave the nest for moments at a time with their mom and dad - learning to fly - until, finally, they are gone. Sometimes, as it happened this year, one stubborn little bird waits awhile - not quite ready to take flight. And Ron watches each day as the "holdout" sits in the nest, or perches on top of the air conditioner - which this year just so happened to need repairs. Ron couldn't fix it of course because the nest was still there, and couldn't move the nest in case the little bird took a long day trip but needed to come back to it's shelter. As if on cue, with this weekend’s warm weather moving in, we found the bird gone this week, and it was safe to remove the nest it from it's perch. Funny feeling - hearing the air conditioner that now hums behind me, it means that it's gone...and next year, if everything goes as planned, we will probably not see that rite of spring.
And so it is with us all and with our children. We take flight when we know that it's time. Whether it's leaving a home we've lived in for half our lives, or watching a child leave to make their way in the world. Scary thought, no matter who you are - the parent, or the child.
As Scott goes apartment hunting, I think of the fact that this will be the second time he has left "the nest." The first time was 9 years ago - he was so excited about finally having his own place. All the things that have occurred in those 9 years, his marriage, a child born, a separation...and coming back to the nest for awhile. He knew that he could; that he was welcome...and that we would be here too, so it wouldn't be a strange place to come home to. When he leaves again, it will be just as painful on this mom's heart as the first (and yet I want it to be just as exciting for him as the first time he left). But isn't that what we do? We let them go...no matter how many times they need to return, we need to let them go again.
Taking flight - it's not easy. For our family, as so many others, Stephen is leaving the nest…taking flight in a different way when he travels to the sands of the Middle East. And when Laurie and Kasey walk away from the airfield when his bus pulls away – so many of you know the scene – they will be taking their own journey. Dear God, protect them all while they are apart. (a prayer I say each day for others as well).
We have a lot of flights ahead of us as I retire within the year, as we sell our home, and as we move to where Laurie and Stephen and Kasey are. Until then, well, we’ll be sitting in or near the nest – until God decides that it’s our time to leave the nest and just like that little bird, without fanfare.
After all, He is with us.
No, it's not easy....but this taking flight is the cycle of life. Just like those baby birds, we don't take flight until we (they) can fly on our/their own. (Dear God - please let my children always need me).
God bless our troops and all of us who love them.
We have a room air conditioner in our family room. It sits in the top window, cools things down nicely on those really hot, muggy days and nights(like tonight) when the breeze coming through the sliding glass door to our deck and the open windows do not provide the cooling cross ventilation that can be so refreshing on a summer day, or night.
Each year, a mama bird builds herself a nest on top of that air conditioner, just outside the window. It clings there during the late winter storms of March, the heavy rains of April, the uncertain weather that May can bring. While the air conditioner wears it's winter cover on the inside of the house, on the outside there is a mama robin sitting on that nest. She holds on for dear life - not just her own, but that of her yet unborn babies. She leaves only once or twice a day for food, or waits for the daddy bird to bring it to her.
When God - in His remarkable compassion and perfect timing - finally allows the patience of the mother bird to be rewarded and those tiny blue eggs give way to fuzzy little creatures, we begin a new watch of the nest. The view is different.
Ron, from his study window and while he surfs online for places we will be taking our RV to, can see the amazing picture change each day as he sees those baby birds peaking their tiny little beaks above the shelter of the nest. And soon, he hears their little peeps as they squawk at their mom for food.
Then, before we realize it, it's time for them to take flight; they leave the nest for moments at a time with their mom and dad - learning to fly - until, finally, they are gone. Sometimes, as it happened this year, one stubborn little bird waits awhile - not quite ready to take flight. And Ron watches each day as the "holdout" sits in the nest, or perches on top of the air conditioner - which this year just so happened to need repairs. Ron couldn't fix it of course because the nest was still there, and couldn't move the nest in case the little bird took a long day trip but needed to come back to it's shelter. As if on cue, with this weekend’s warm weather moving in, we found the bird gone this week, and it was safe to remove the nest it from it's perch. Funny feeling - hearing the air conditioner that now hums behind me, it means that it's gone...and next year, if everything goes as planned, we will probably not see that rite of spring.
And so it is with us all and with our children. We take flight when we know that it's time. Whether it's leaving a home we've lived in for half our lives, or watching a child leave to make their way in the world. Scary thought, no matter who you are - the parent, or the child.
As Scott goes apartment hunting, I think of the fact that this will be the second time he has left "the nest." The first time was 9 years ago - he was so excited about finally having his own place. All the things that have occurred in those 9 years, his marriage, a child born, a separation...and coming back to the nest for awhile. He knew that he could; that he was welcome...and that we would be here too, so it wouldn't be a strange place to come home to. When he leaves again, it will be just as painful on this mom's heart as the first (and yet I want it to be just as exciting for him as the first time he left). But isn't that what we do? We let them go...no matter how many times they need to return, we need to let them go again.
Taking flight - it's not easy. For our family, as so many others, Stephen is leaving the nest…taking flight in a different way when he travels to the sands of the Middle East. And when Laurie and Kasey walk away from the airfield when his bus pulls away – so many of you know the scene – they will be taking their own journey. Dear God, protect them all while they are apart. (a prayer I say each day for others as well).
We have a lot of flights ahead of us as I retire within the year, as we sell our home, and as we move to where Laurie and Stephen and Kasey are. Until then, well, we’ll be sitting in or near the nest – until God decides that it’s our time to leave the nest and just like that little bird, without fanfare.
After all, He is with us.
No, it's not easy....but this taking flight is the cycle of life. Just like those baby birds, we don't take flight until we (they) can fly on our/their own. (Dear God - please let my children always need me).
God bless our troops and all of us who love them.
3 comments:
I read your post about Scott and Tina being friends. My son Mike and Noah's mom Tracy were divorced 5 years ago. It was a terrible mourning process for us all. Today they are good firends...Thank God!
I am so glad the fighting went away...for Noah's sake.
Sometimes it is better this way.
Sue,
I will pray for broad wings and keen eyes to be upon your birds... to be upon you, as well.
We all have our journies, as you have said. We all have our cross to bear, as well. It is all he asks of us, such a small task for such grand place to be rewarded with in heaven. God bless, good travels. Annabee
All our birds need time and we are always there for them, near and far, for when they need our help....May all your birds (human and otherwise) feel your love and strength,
HUGS,
Karen
Post a Comment