Thursday, February 26, 2009

What Does Little Birdie Say?

Our parents watch over us and take care of us until it is time for us to leave home.

I ran across this poem, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, today while reading to Gabriel. It is a strong reminder of how fleeting the days are that we have to teach and train our children.

What does little birdie say
In her nest at peep of day?
"Let me fly," says little birdie."
"Mother, let me fly away."

Birdie, rest a little longer, Till the little wings are stronger.
So she rests a little longer,
Then she flies away.

What does little baby say
In her bed at peep of day?
Baby says, like little birdie,
"Let me rise and fly away."

Baby, sleep a little longer,
Till the little limbs are stronger.
If she sleeps a little longer,
Baby too shall fly away.

This poem is sobering, but it made me think again about how I am using the swiftly passing days I have with my children. Am I too busy? Are we at home enough? Am I talking enough, reading enough, praying enough? Am I modeling the character I want them to emulate? Am I leading gently, kindly but consistently? To be honest I probably fall short of what I want to be doing more times than not. This is, however, where my heart is. I want to be equipping and training in righteousness while my little birdies are still in my nest. I would love to hear from you; what are your thoughts on your time with your little birdies? How are you preparing them to fly?

5 comments:

  1. Hi Ruth, I love that poem. Our children seem to grow so fast! We will always fall short if we rely on ourselves, but praise God we have HIM to help us right? I think we will always have little doubts here and there, but if we are guiding their hearts and minds towards God, we will never fail them, nor will our God. Thanks so much for sharing that poem.

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  2. Hi Ruth! that Anonymous person commenting up there was me! (Lori from Michigan). I forgot to sign it. :)

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  3. Hi Ruth,
    This is Kesha from KACH. I found your blog this morning and was so blessed by this post. This morning, I was reading Psalm 91 and Mt. 5 and reflecting on the simplicity of what it means to walk with God. The Word is a mirror and I was thinking about the areas where I am growing (some areas need more growth than others:)). Then I got to Jesus' words about being the fulfillment of the Law. The Lord spoke to my heart in a fresh way about how it is His righteousness that I am relying on~not my own. As He was speaking to me, He was showing me that even in my weakness, He is made strong. As I grow in Him, my children see a fallible human being falling into the arms of her Savior. This is my heart for them~to find refuge in God in the secret place. When we are hidden in Him, life is full of joy.

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