ON ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL AND FRESH SPRING MINNESOTA MORNINGS a little boy robin was blissfully hopping about as he chirped  cheerfully while exploring a new road, a road not too far from his Mamma’s watchful eyes. Petey was just being Petey: young, happy, healthy and excited about everything! His Mamma never had such an energetic baby! He was a handful! And she loved him more than she could ever, ever tell him or show him! Petey had a good, good Mamma and he knew it.

As he continued to explore, chirp, eat worms, look at bugs, smell flowers, Petey looked up at that beautiful Spring Minnesota sky, full of blue and white clouds moving, shifting and even making patterns! He felt like he already was in Heaven! How much better could things get?!  He was always marveling over the world’s beauty. Didn’t that cloud look just like a puppy? And didn’t that one kind of look like Mamma? They did to Petey.

Petey was having a grand time, but Mamma bird was getting uncomfortable even though she knew she, that is, she and the Lord always knew, they had to keep a keen eye on him constantly. Petey was in the road, only not too far out – yet. This could be a real threat! A good mamma bird keeps her eyes on her babies and will even ward off attackers from them. Petey’s Mamma was ready and able and more than willing to protect her little birdie son. That baby robin boy belonged to the Lord and to her! Don’t mess with her offspring! Petey was her’s and she loved him dearly. Naturally, as Mamma was watching him, she just had to call to Petey: “Peter! Honey, be careful! I don’t want you going too far into the street!”   Petey’s Mamma was well aware that he was a busy bird baby. She had kept an eye on him more than most of her other feathered children. Petey was ambitious, highly energetic and full of that explorative gene. Like human babies, each and every little baby robin is different! God, The Creator, lovingly puts different personality in His babies… And He loves them all! Feathered or fury, bare-skinned or boney, dark or light or in-between, God cares for His creations and always, always wanted the best for them, including Petey.

Petey is a respectful and thankful birdie son. He returns his love to his Mamma by listening carefully, giving her appreciation, returning kindness to her and showing her great respect and admiration… good qualities for every child. Petey always listens to his beautiful and loving Mamma, just not as much as he always should. He really always tries to be the best boy he could be because he was ever so thankful, respectful and loving to God and his Mamma.

While Petey was greatly enjoying his freedom (it was pretty much newly found, for it hadn’t been such a long time since he flew the nest.) he was exploring and traveling while making certain to keep his ears willingly open to his Mamma’s call. Mamma bird continued to watch Petey, putting aside her own strong desires to skip, chirp, smell all the beauty. She too wanted to gaze at the puffy and lazy clouds…  But Petey was her primary responsibility and a labor of love. And as long as Mamma bird had breath in her tiny little, loving body; Petey would be safe.

The glittering and aromatic morning lingered, seemingly surreal. But our world, Petey’s world is real and full of beauty. What Petey didn’t yet know, the world has, but never should have had, extreme dangers; some of which appear suddenly out of nowhere. But of course, Petey’s Mamma was older. An older bird is a wiser bird and this Mamma bird was exceptionally wise, joyful and discerning. You see, unknown to Petey (because his Mamma wouldn’t tell him sorrowful truths until it was absolutely necessary) she had seen many beautiful baby birds come to a quick and gruesome end because of The Fall of Adam. The pitiful wails of their mothers are sounds never forgotten this side of Heaven. Mamma was determined this would never happen to her Petey and he would live a long and happy life on Earth until the Lord wanted Petey to sing and hop and skip on His favorite planet, Heaven.

Petey had been in the street, very near the curb for about a good seven minutes now. In the world of humans the clock was ticking and people were starting out for work. This well-traveled road would soon be getting more traffic, some on which some drivers would be speeding on or texting or simply just not paying the careful attention to the life forms that might be legal or illegal in the city streets. For robins, there is no such law. Thank God for mamma robins and all the other mammas, including human mammas, who pay strict and loving attention to the signs of danger, for not all are posted.

Her eye on Petey, Mamma was getting uncomfortable with where he was. Granted, Petey was far, far from the middle of the road and a person driving in his car with an average weight of three thousand, five hundred pounds is presented no threat of any possible damage to it or that of its driver by that of a lightweight robin or any other bird for that matter…

But now, it was time for Mamma to act! The first car they had seen all morning was coming down on the side of the street they were one, the side where Petey was hopping and chirping; the area where it was not impossible for the car to run its tires off center from the precise driving lane they are supposed to be in!  Not panicking now, but taking wise precaution, Petey’s Mamma knew that she knew, it was time to move!

 

“Peter, Peter!” Get out of the road!”

 

She always used Petey’s formal name when danger was possible. When danger became a very real and imminent threat is the only time she used his formal name, Peter! A very cleaver use of Petey’s name. Her decision to call him this way and only this way was when he was in any type of danger! This could possibly save his life some day! Thank God for a beautiful, loving and wise Mamma! Petey’s attention was immediately captured! Something was up!

 

“Peter! Peter! Car coming! Car coming! Come back to me immediately!”

 

That was it! Without looking up at anything but his Mamma, Petey instinctively responded to the Mamma who loved him more than her very own life! Joyfully, thankfully, Petey came hopping up onto the curb and then onto the grass. Safe! Alive! And still happy! It was good for him to listen to Mamma without even thinking of questioning her! Laughing with great love and appreciation for her handsome and very respectful son, Mamma explained what could have been… Nestled safely in the grass and out of the road, she told her precious, unique baby boy this:

 

“Son, you have to be careful of people when they are driving in their cars. The driver could have driven her car right on top of you and I wouldn’t get to see you again for a very, very long time: too long for me to even think about without crying!”

 

Now Petey was a good son, a truly remarkable son, full of obedience, respect, love and joy for his Mamma, but he just didn’t understand the possible danger:

 

“But Mamma, why? That lady slowed down in her car and stopped completely for me! I saw her coming, I saw her look in her mirror to see if it was safe to stop! I knew it was! And she did even stop! She’s a nice lady! I know she loves us beautiful birdies! Mamma! She smiled at me!”

 

Petey’s Mamma knew she absolutely had to make him understand… understand the dangers. Patiently she explained in more detail to her beloved baby bird:

 

“Yes my son. She is a nice lady! She, like so many humans, love us darling bird. Love to watch us. You know so many of them feed us! A lot even give us the gift of a bird bath that feels so good on a hot day and are always so fun to splash in! Feels so good on a hot day! But Son…”

 

Petey was so excited that he was right about nice humans, how they loved the little birds; he was so excited that he knew that lady would never hurt him, that she would even stop her car to keep from hurting him! He felt so loved by Mamma and the lady! Petey knew there were so many, many people who would never, never hurt him! He was so excited! Why, Petey was still so very excited from his beautiful Minnesota morning experiences with all the exploring, worms to eat, bugs to look at, the flowers he smelled, that beautiful Minnesota Spring sky. He was so happy to be alive, so thankful to God and his Mamma. Petey loved the pretty woman who loved him and cared deeply about him too!

 

Petey always wanted to be respectful to his Mamma who was more than just a nice mother, she was always first and foremost his Mamma who loved him just as much as he needed. She taught him well, very well. And his Mamma did exactly as she taught him. She was a role model! Mamma was great and worthy of great respect, great love! Because she had taught Petey so well,  it was highly unusual for him to interrupt, but he did. And Mamma understood why so she was extra loving, extra patient, extra kind and so very, very thankful Petey was a such a very good son. He obeyed immediately from her stern and very necessary call: “Peter, Peter!” Get out of the road!”  He had done the necessary! Petey did absolutely the right thing at the right time. Interrupting his mamma was understandable for Petey was far more excited than usual even for Petey.

“But Mamma! The pretty lady was kind! She was careful! And she loves me! I love her too!”

 Petey’s Mamma had to get her message understood:

“My son, my beautiful Petey, I must now give you a hard teaching, one that you must never, ever forget until you are living on the planet, Heaven!”

Obediently, because Petey understood Mamma’s rules, he listened with his beautiful little eyes fixed on his Mamma’s tender face, listening to her soothing voice:

“Petey, I love your name Peter. It’s the name of your great-grandfather. Daddy and I decided to call you by Peter only when there is danger until we’re in Heaven. Son, everything there will be perfect. There will be no danger there… But Petey, I have to tell you this now and I want you to always remember this hard teaching: Son, some people will try to deliberately hit you with their car. Some of them, many, should not even be driving for they are not worthy to. Petey, some mean boys might try to kill you with a rock. There are even dangers like cats, dogs. Petey, it is time for you to know that there is sin in the world.”

This was a word Petey had never heard.   “What’s that, Mamma?” Now Mamma’s eyes were filled with tears, brimming over her pretty little face, fashioned by God. Choking on sorrow, Mamma continued:

“My Son, it was not supposed to ever be like this! God created all birdies, ladies, cats, dogs… He created everything! And He called everything good! But, Petey, He let humans choose.”

Without interrupting, Petey asked another question:

“Mamma, God knows everything! He knew humans would choose good or evil, didn’t He Mamma? Didn’t he?!”

Petey’s Mamma was always so impressed with how bright Petey was, with how he picked up things so very quickly.

“Yes, Petey God knew. He always knows everything. It’s called ‘omniscience’.  Petey, God knows everything; He created all things. He loves His creation, but He wants love back; and love can’t be love if it’s forced, Petey. I know you understand this, my bright and beautiful little boy!

This is the lesson I never, never want you to forget:

REMEMBER THE ROAD? There were stripes down it. Yellow, white, remember? You, my Son, were on the narrow part of the road. You were safe. Yes, you were safe. But Petey, the wide part of the road where humans are supposed to drive is not where they always drive; you have to go away from any possible dangers. Petey, it’s a lot like humans: some love us, some don’t and you know it’s only the evil ones who don’t love a cute little birdie like you, like me! Humans have to know God like we do. They have to truly love Him or else, when they’re squashed on a road, or however they die, they won’t go up to planet Heaven like we will. You see, Petey, they too, can only be kept safe on the narrow of the road, where it’s beautiful and safe all the time, no matter what!”

 

 

 

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and
only a few find it.

 

 

SCRIPTURES TO THIS JOY STORY:

Psalm 84:1-4
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,  where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.  Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

 

PERSONAL NOTE:
Long before I was a saint, long before I would have been an accountable sinner, I was a child. As a child filled with awe of the beauty of a butterfly, a baby bird, a rainbow, I loved the world. Now as an adult Christian, a lover of truth, I see beauty and ugly: good and evil. I have to see it, for I have to fight evil. I have to call it out!

Thank You, Jesus, for showing me how to discern and have the wonder of a child… a child of God!

I love the little birdies!