A devotional by Miki Clouser

Sometimes the simplest things in life remind you of the most profound truths. That happened last week with a friend of mine. I stopped by on Sunday and found her watering her hanging ferns. Both ferns had nests with tiny baby birds in them. She took down the younger nest, and I snapped a photo of the three babies huddled together while she carefully poured water around them.

Before she pulled down the second fern, she said, “These guys are too young to leave the nest yet, but they’re bigger—and I’m scared they’ll startle and hop away while I’ve got it down…”

Guess what happened.

As I turned to check on her dog, I suddenly heard her cry out, “No, don’t! COME BACK HERE!!!” I turned around to see her sprinting down the front yard toward the street, chasing two baby birds and a loudly protesting mama bird. A third baby was heading for the street in the opposite direction.

To our horror, one baby and the mama flopped right into the middle of the road. A car came flying by, totally unaware of the drama unfolding. It zoomed right over the mama and baby—who flattened themselves like pancakes on the hot blacktop. The wind from the car sent the tiny baby tumbling like an empty soda bottle kicked down the street. By some miracle, the tires missed them.

Then, the dog—barking like mad—darted into the street, trying to catch baby #3 in his mouth.

So, there we were: two crazy ladies, waving our arms, shouting, and trying to stopping traffic while preventing certain death. I grabbed the dog and shoved him into the house. When I came back out, my friend had managed to chase two of the baby birds out of the road and was standing between them and danger, gesturing wildly at baby #3 who was across the street in a bush.

While tramping through the neighbor’s flowerbed after him, I muttered, “You little birdbrain, I’m rescuing you! You are too tiny for this big world. You need the safety of your nest!” They slipped our grasp several times as we tried not to crush their delicate bodies. But one by one, we placed them back in the fern nest.

The last baby leapt out again in terror and smacked into the porch. My friend scooped him up and returned him to safety. Thankfully, mama and papa came back to the nest later.

So. Much. Drama.

After the dust settled, I looked at my friend and said, “You know that feeling we had when the car raced over those birds? I bet that’s how God feels about me five days out of seven. I do such dumb things… I run from safety when I get anxious. Some days I refuse to be rescued. Other days I think I’m ready for the big world, but I’m not. And I’m sure God is running after me, arms waving, trying to rescue me from my own stupidity more often than I’ll ever know.”

We laughed—because it’s true.

But then she said something deeper: “I wonder what’s going through their little minds right now?”

I’m still chewing on that. More from my perspective than theirs.

When I have one of those bird-brained moments—when God pulls me out of traffic I walked straight into—what runs through my head afterward?

Do I gain a healthy respect for danger, or just fear everything?
Do I learn to run towards safety instead of away from it?
Do I stay in the nest until God pushes me out?

What do I remember after the car flies over my head and God scoops me up again?

I hope, more than anything, I remember this:God is unendingly good. And there is nothing more essential than His presence in my life.

Scripture Reflections

Psalm 91:4, 14–15
He will shield you with His wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor.
“For the Lord says, ‘Because he loves me, I will rescue him… When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him.’”

Psalm 23:6
Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.

Psalm 77:11–12
I recall the many miracles He did for me so long ago. Those wonderful deeds are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them.

Psalm 107:1–2
Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has saved you

May we never forget the rescues—and may we always run toward the One whose wings are wide enough to shelter us every time.