Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she can have her young - a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:3
Most birds cannot fly until their muscle structure has had time to develop. In the meantime, the nest becomes their entire world. Baby birds are not responsible for food gathering or protection of the nest, so they generally develop a psychological dependence which must be overcome. Parent birds begin to teach their fledglings the importance of flying by remaining a short distance away from the nest during feeding. If the young birds are to survive, they must step away from the nest. Frequently, this means a few hard falls to the ground followed by a long trip back to the safety of the nest.
As my children venture out on their own I know their hearts are fragile. I pray and hope we have given them the examples to survive and start families of their own. The muscle structure of their trusting hearts still need time to develop. Our home became their entire world growing up. A place where everything they needed was provided. I can so relate to the paragraph above. It is amazing as I read this how ideal this would be for humans. I take pride in knowing that Chris and I tried to mirror this method with the Lord's help. When I was young everything was so uncertain. I felt I never had a safe nest. My parents were divorced when I was young and where we lived never felt like "home". Life was hard and somewhat unfriendly. When I graduated high school my mom urged me to leave. But not with the safety of the nest a short distance away. Not with a few hard falls to the ground and a trip back to the safety of the nest. Their was no nest to come back to! It was life or death out there. If I was a young bird I would have surely not survived. My mom claims that all this made me stronger. Stronger maybe, but very insecure, nontrusting, lack of self esteem, anxiety, obsessional thoughts and compulsiveness; all these neuroses was the cost. I am afraid to think what sort of mother I would have been if I had not had a relationship with Christ. I like to trust that my children know that our home is a safe place. Hopefully a place of rest and refreshment. Sometimes it will need to be a place to time out and to seek God's face. We have always encouraged the kids to venture out and express themselves. Short distances away with grandparents, with friends, youth group, school activities, learning to drive, getting part time jobs, honing their creativeness, talents, and passions - anything to be able to slowly learn to overcome their psychological dependence. Trying to teach them the importance of their independence.There have been a few hard falls to the ground but always trips back to the safety of home. Home where they can be themselves and to gain strength in their person.
All of this practice time, awkward as it may seem, does teach the fledgling about the mechanics of flight. Falls to the ground become more controlled as the young bird stretches out his or her wings. Short hops back to the nest become longer flights. Bird parents continue to encourage their brood to leave the nest for longer periods of time. Some species actually adopt a tough love policy, leaving the fledglings alone to develop their own flying instincts.
This seems to be how it is as our children develop learning skills, friendships, and the ability to reason through their school years. Learning the mechanics of living and trusting God. Their falls became more controlled or easier to handle as they stretched out their hearts, minds, and faith. Their disappointments, heartaches, and failures seemed to be handled by coming home to find that they are okay and lovable. This gave them more courage to continue to take new ventures. Having their own space was very helpful for them to develop the part of them that was different, their personalities.
After a few weeks of practice and imitation, young birds learn more advanced flying techniques - how to use the wind for lift, how to spot rising thermals and how to make controlled landings. Eventually, all of these elements become instinctive and young birds can start families of their own. The teaching process begins anew as these birds teach their own young how to fly.
Years of practice, prayer, and examples, our children are developing into confident adults with integrity, honesty, and good work ethics to name a few. Daring to handle their finances, how to act at the workplace, controlling their tempers and emotions. They are still learning and will always have the nest as a safe place to come to, gain strength and get advise. I trust all of this will be of worth as they start their own families.
For birds, flying is an incredibly taxing exercise. Some bird experts compare it to human jogging times ten. Fortunately, many birds have air sacs which act as auxiliary lungs. Each breath a bird takes is much more concentrated than an equivalent human breath. Birds also have very well-developed pectoral muscles for constant wing motion and an exceptionally strong heart for endurance. Hollow bones reduce drag and the natural curve of the wings creates significant lift. Most birds are literally swimming through the air, using the weight of the air beneath them to keep them aloft. (from wiseGEEK)
I pray my children will grow strong especially their hearts so they may have the endurance to fly like a bird.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; the will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
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