“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.” Job 12:7.
Bluebirds are a real favorite with many people. They are gentle looking, have a sweet song, and like to live near people who often provide nesting boxes for them. There are only three varieties of true bluebirds, all of which live in North America or Mexico. These are the eastern, between the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean; the western, in the area from the Pacific Ocean to the Rockies; and the mountain, which lives as far north as Alaska.
Most bluebirds migrate south in the early winter where food such as insects, seeds, berries and many fruits is plentiful. Those that bravely stay in the cold areas through wintertime live in big flocks. At night several crowd into a nest, snuggling together to keep warm.
In early springtime as the migrators return, they all select mates and build grassy cup-shaped nests (unless they find a nesting box provided by some bird lover). Eggs are laid and soon hatch out. Raising the chicks is a real chore since they have tremendous appetites, keeping both parents busy. One birdwatcher reported that throughout daylight hours food was brought to a nest by one or the other of the parents about every three minutes! My, what love they show, to work so hard for their young. Here is another example of the way the Creator has provided faithful instincts so the babies will be well taken care of.
The chicks grow quickly and within two or three weeks fly from the nest, often perching in a nearby tree where the father still feeds them and teaches them to care for themselves. Meanwhile the mother has cleaned up the nest and laid more eggs in it. When the new family hatches, the parents get busy feeding them, just as they did the older ones. But here is where the lesson we mentioned in our title, may be learned. When the birds already raised and living on nearby limbs see how busy the parents are and how hungry their new brothers and sisters are, they often help in bringing food to the new arrivals. Isn’t that a kind thing to do? Only a very few other young birds are known to do this.
Here is a good example of how boys and girls can be helpful to their parents. This doesn’t necessarily mean feeding babies, since there are other ways to show love. This can be done by doing dishes, making beds, weeding the garden, keeping the yard clean and many other things that show Mother and Dad your love in a real practical way.
When things like this are done in a happy spirit, they are always pleasing to the Lord. The Bible tells us, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:11. Do you please the Lord as well as Mother and Dad by helping them as young bluebirds help their parents?
ML-03/17/1985