.

He's a hardworking father, diligently struggling to

feed his little family.
The babies clamor for nourishment,

 yet remain strangely silent in spite of their frenzy.

Faithful and patient, the father returns again
and again, each time bringing some new expected treat.
It is impossible not to stare at the silent ballet of love, devotion, and self-sacrifice. Each tiny mouth is fed,

 equally and fairly, as if the young father keeps

accurate accounts.

The young robin's nest has been built low to the ground
and exposed to the sky, so it is obvious that he is young
and inexperienced in the ways of the world in which he

 lives.  No stray cats nor hawks disturb the

imagination of this devoted dad.

I sit on the ground, tearing up the sod to expose the juicy
worms and grubs, and I pray for the safety of the lonely male, who remains devoted to nest and family.

 His four younglings will soon hunt in our front garden, ravenously devouring any insects and grubs that

come within their grasp.

I cannot help but wonder about the mother of the little nestlings.  Where has she gone? And why does she not return? Perhaps she fell victim to the many cats  that

roam in our neighborhood.  Perhaps she found a

new husband who was more desirable.  Or perhaps she understood the uncertainties of life, trusting in this

young family man to remain faithful no matter

what became of her. Perhaps, like me, she

found it easy to fall in love with the male who

would best provide for her children should

she no longer be able to.

There is a lesson as well as a mystery

here in my front garden.
The mystery of why, where, and how can only

 be answered by the lesson of faithfulness and

diligence of this young male robin.

Parental love is not exclusive to the mothering hen,
but it also burns within the heart of the single father,
who asks nothing more than the opportunity to serve with love.

Jaye Lewis

Jaye Lewis is an award winning writer who looks at
life from a unique perspective, celebrating the
miraculous in the day to day.
Jaye writes and lives with her family
in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.

You can write Jaye using the following

E - Mail address:  jlewis@smyth.net


 

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