Worth More than Robins

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without the knowledge and consent of your Father. …So do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. –Matthew 10: 29, 31

Last week a fierce windstorm knocked a robin’s nest out of our crabapple tree. From our kitchen window, I had been watching the action at that nest for the past month. Every day, the mother robin would fly down and bound along the grass, nab a few worms seemingly out of thin air, and fly back up to drop them into hungry mouths.

Now a mangled nest lay in the grass, with a fledgling robin huddled beside it.

The girls then found another fledgling a couple yards away, almost stumbling on the bewildered fellow.

The girls were beside themselves with excitement. I was worried. The sight of those helpless fledglings in the grass, beside a torn nest that I would not be able to put back in the tree, really unnerved me. Thinking that they might not make it almost brought me to tears. A hawk circled overhead at that moment, and I felt like throwing myself on them to protect them. My emotional reaction to these birds was unlike me.

Though we have many interactions with critters on our property, and some are rather cute, I’m really not an animal lover. I’m more of an animal tolerator. Except for those critters that cannot be tolerated, such as the skunk who took up residence below our deck back in April.

This past weekend, we finally had a friend set some traps. We’ve kept our plan on the down low from three girls who all fit to a T the definition of animal lover. I’m happy the skunk situation will be resolved soon.

But what to do about these fledglings? We had to try something. Google to the rescue!

Thanks to The Audubon Society, I learned that these young robins were actually pretty far along in their development. Using gloves, they could be scooped back into their nest or a plastic container with tissue paper, and as long as the “nest” was placed within 10 yards of its original location, the mother robin would find her young and continue to feed them.

What did moms do before smartphones?

While I gathered some supplies, my oldest decided to comfort one of the fledglings by reading to it.

I grabbed a pair of gloves, paper, and, in a flash of inspiration, an empty hanging basket from the garage. Wearing the gloves, I put a wad of tissue paper in the basket, and set the torn nest on top. Perfect!

Now came the job of getting “Peepy” and “Sweetheart,” so christened by my six and four year old, back into their nest.

Sweetheart was a breeze to scoop up and deposit into the nest. (Photos courtesy of my six year old.)

Peepy gave me a little more trouble.

At last, both were back in their home, and I was ready to hang the basket. Except I had forgotten to get a stepladder. I hung Peepy and Sweetheart on our flowering basket post temporarily.

The wind was blowing hard, and adventurous Peepy started lunging for my six year old’s hair.

Back with the stepladder, I picked up the hanging basket, and Peepy, of course, hopped out. The girls had a blast as I ran around the yard (again) trying to catch him as he kept bouncing out of reach.

Finally, we were set. With Peepy and Sweetheart safely inside, I hung the basket on the same branch that had held the nest before the windstorm.

A couple hours later, while inside making lunch, I heard raucous chirping. I peered out the window in time to see the mother robin flying toward the nest, fresh worms dangling from her beak. Mission accomplished. I let out a sigh of relief.

I couldn’t help but think of God’s tender care of me, and these active little girls, in our full and noisy nest. Right now in this world, fearsome winds blow and nothing seems secure. Yet God’s eye is on us. No matter the storm, we will not be carried beyond His gentle reach.

Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

He is teaching us during this time.

As He allows the “secure” things in our lives to be shaken, He reminds my family and me that our true security is found in Him alone. And we don’t need to be afraid. He teaches every lesson out of love for us. We are worth so very much to Him.