Jewel # 116 (July 15, 2012)

And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts,

in that day when I make up 

MY JEWELS."

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren,

A Spring Calamity

When we were visiting with some of our family in early spring, we were fascinated by a robin's nest very close to their kitchen window.  The mother and  father robin took turns sitting on the nest.  Soon the eggs hatched and the parents started bringing food to the hatched babies.  All day long they were very carefully feeding their tiny babies that only had a little fuzz on them.  In time, real feathers would develop and grow, as the babies grew bigger.

Before we left for home a week later, we could see that the babies had grown quite a bit.  They had their little beaks up in the air, wide open and waiting to receive food.

About a week after we had been home, I was talking to our daughter on the phone and asked her about the baby birds.  "Did the little robins learn to fly yet?"

"Oh," she said, "the most terrible thing happened this morning when I was watching them.  A big, black crow landed on the robins' nest and picked up all three baby robins in its beak and flew away with them!  I'm so glad the children were in school, as they would have been terribly upset!"

This was a terrible calamity, especially when the mother and father robin had taken such good care of their babies.  It makes us sad to think about it.  But those of us who read the Bible know that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, the results of their sin affected not only all people born into the world ever after, but it also affected all of God's beautiful creation, including the plants and all creatures.  As a result, many creatures in the wild now kill to eat, including crows, and God sees it all.  But He also sees the little sparrow  that might be in trouble.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your 

Father . . . Fear ye not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows."

(Matthew 10:29,31) 

There was not much that could be done to help the poor mother and father robins.  But you and I have a loving Father in heaven who sees and knows everything that happens to you, and me too, and He cares.  He loves us so much that He is willing to help us,  no matter what the problem might be.  He wants us to call to Him when we need His help, even though He has already seen our problem.  He says, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).  And how good it is for us to thank Him right away too, because we know He is going to help us.      

I love you all,

Grandpa