Safe in the Nest

Every mother knows the sheer pleasure of watching her children laugh and play, and an amusement park provides it all—in big doses!

On one summer visit to an amusement park, our family had such a good time rushing from ride to ride and squealing our enjoyment together on the roller coasters, bumper cars, whirly things, and flying swings... all day long. At about five in the evening, we found ourselves in line for a rather calm ride—a nice long canal where boats simply floated from one end to the other. No thrills. No screams. It seemed appropriate after a hard day’s “work” on the more adventurous rides. As we shuffled forward in the line that led to a shelter where the boats were loaded, we looked up into the beams supporting the roof of the little building. In a cozy wooden corner was a bird’s nest.

We watched in fascination as several baby birds craned their skinny little necks crowned by wide gaping beaks demanding food from their hard-working mother. They were all clamoring at once, and it was almost comical to see how insistent yet helpless they were.

The contrast could not have been starker. Here below was a line of carefree, chattering holidaymakers, and up there in the rafters, just a foot or two away yet undaunted and undistracted by all the commotion was a mother bird determined to care for her young. She had only one thing on her mind—she was going to feed them and protect them. Nothing else mattered.

We watched as she placed food in each little beak, then at last settled them down and covered them with her wings. Nap time.

In that moment, I was reminded of a wonderful, comforting truth: I’m in God’s nest! So are you, friend, if you have Jesus Christ as your Saviour. There are many distractions in this world and many things clamoring for God’s attention, but His eyes never leave us. His attention never strays. He knows what we need, and when the time is right He fills every hungry little “beak.”

Just as those tiny, helpless birds received their nourishment and then settled down to rest, so should we receive the blessings from our Father’s loving hands and rest secure in the knowledge that we can trust Him completely with our lives. He is all powerful, but He is also personal. What’s more, He is deeply interested in every small detail of our lives.

David the psalmist said it best: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Like as a father pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:1-5, 13-14).