Life
My son parked his mower in an open ended shed for the winter. His ball cap slung into the seat waiting for the spring. As the weather warmed unbeknownst to my son, a mother house finch found the cap upturned on the mower seat. She must have thought it the perfect place to mold her nest.
As she brought twigs and pine needles, the grass grew. She found scraps of yarn and old mop strings and the grass grew.
The weather warmed and my son went to the shed for his mower. There in the cap was her nest with three brown speckled eggs.
The grass needed mowing. He needed his cap, though not a necessity. Would she return if the nest was moved? She flew into the shed and landed on her nest guarding it with her life. Gently he grasped the bill of the cap. She made a peck toward his hand. He lifted the cap and softly placed it on a ledge. She never flinched.
The lawn was mowed, the mower returned to the shed. Mama finch sat quietly on her eggs. Until one day the peeping of chicks came wafting from the shed. Another few days and the shed was silent. The little family was gone filling the trees with song.
January is Sanctity of Human Life month. Our country seems to have no problem valuing animal life. However, how much do we value human life? My son could have chosen to toss the eggs from his cap or simply throw the cap and eggs away. Instead he chose life. Instead, now there was life and song in his trees. He had looked for options to save life. It seems so simple but it’s really not as simple as it seems. Life can sometimes be inconvenient. It can be scary. It can be lonesome with a feeling of abandonment. Like the mother bird we need to defend life, human life with our actions. That doesn’t always mean endangering ourselves though it might. It means defending it with our actions, standing on a sidewalk, speaking with those who are making hard choices. It means speaking life in our churches, in our schools and in our homes, and not only with our words but also our funds. It means showing love to those who are hurting from wrong choices.
Are we promoting adoption? Are we fostering children in need of homes? Are we shepherding the moms and dads who are scared, weary, and confused? Are we, the church, the hands and feet of Jesus for the least of these? Are we supporting crisis pregnancy centers in our community?
I pray that one day we are able to look around us and see the world filled with children bringing laughter and joy to our communities. Sixty million little voices have already tragically been silenced. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday has two days this year, January 17 and 24, 2021.
Blessings, Gail Cartee
Beautiful, and so powerful, Gail. Thank you for sharing.
Bonnie Rose, thank you for your encouragement.
So true. So beautifully written.
Thank you for your encoragement, Jean.
This is wonderful, Gail. Prolife means more than anti-abortion. It means helping and providing for those who have chosen life and need resources to help them survive.
So true, Crystal. I hope we are all looking for those opportunities.
Beautiful message Gail.
Thank you, Melissa.
Our family knows the value of choosing life and the blessings of adoption. Thank you for this powerful message!
I met so many families who adopted children while I was teaching. Seeing these forever families helped us all better understand the love God has for us who have been adopted through salvation into His family.
I loved this story. My son was a five-year-old when he held a tiny egg in his hand that he found in my potted plant. As we looked at the egg, all of a sudden, a tiny little lizard was born in his hand. He was so surprised, and now he is 30 but still remembers that well!
Adoption is a godly choice! 4 Kids of South Florida have an outstanding program being modeled by churches across the country.
I’d like to learn more about 4 Kids of South Florida. I believe when churches become involved in adoption and crisis pregnancy centers it increases their understanding of God’s love for us.