There’s a birds nest in my soccer chair. I call them soccer chairs, that’s probably not their name. You know the ones with the cup holders you take to the soccer fields? I store them in my garage, and yesterday I heard the chirping of baby birds from the side of my garage where the chairs hang. The nest is beautiful and strategically nestled inside the top of the folded chair.
As I stood quietly contemplating if I could take a peek or if it would be too disruptive, I saw her beak and the rounded top of her head gently nudge the baby from the nest. At first I thought she was trying to get rid of him but it was a flying lesson. I sat down to watch, on the concrete, wishing I had my soccer chair which is currently occupied.
I marveled at the courage she had to push her baby out of the nest, until I realized I’ve done it myself. At some point, as mothers, we know when it is time to help our children spread their wings and fly. And it is never easy.
My grandmother used to say, “Courage comes when we are constantly thrown out of the nest.”
I don’t know about you, but I’ve experienced a great deal of “nest plunging” and not by my own free will; but every time, I’ve learned something invaluable for my life.
The space from the nest to the ground always appears to be a massive distance; but the descent and the ascent are the key elements which make the fall all worth it. It is in those times that we learn the most.
I’ve learned in order to be comfortable, I first must overcome being uncomfortable. In order to be courageous, I must face my fears. And a peaceful nature stems from dealing with conflict.
Life is hard and complicated. No one has it easy and no one is void of problems or mistakes. The beauty of life comes when we learn to flap our wings each time we find ourselves falling from the nest. Those that flap never hit the ground too hard.
