Thoughtful Thursday 

A Most Precious Gift 

The year 2012 was a busy one for our son, Ben. He graduated college, interned at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, got married, and moved away to the Chicago area. As the parents of an only child, we were involved in all his activities, from little league baseball, to musical endeavors, school activities, travel, and just hanging out together.

However, as he grew older, he became more independent, especially when he started college, and lived away from home. Before we knew it, here we were, on that September day, getting ready to send him off to Chicago, of all places. 

Following his wedding and honeymoon, Ben had one more week of internship to complete with the national park. His new wife had already started her job, and was living in Carpentersville, Illinois. Ben was to join her at the end of that week. 

On his way through, from Tennessee to Illinois, he stopped by our house to say goodbye. We walked him out to his car, gave him hugs, wished him well, and said things like, “Be careful…call us when you get there…we love you!”

We kept a brave face until the tail lights on his car rounded the curve. Then, my husband and I were both overcome with emotion. We stood there in the driveway, and clung to each other, tears streaming down our face. Trying to encourage both myself and my husband, I said, “Well, they have to leave the nest sometime.” Then I thought, “But I don’t have to like it!”  As I said these words to myself, I began to formulate a poem in my mind to express the emotions that I was feeling. Here’s what I was thinking:


Does a Mother Bird Cry?

Does the mother bird cry, when her baby leaves the nest?
Does she wait, and watch him fly, thinking that she'll never rest?
Does she breathe a little sigh, hoping that she's done her best?
Does the mother bird cry, when her baby leaves the nest?

Is the father bird so proud, as he watches him take wing?
Does his spirit cry out loud, as the bells of freedom ring?
Has he done all that he vowed, taken care of everything?
Is the father bird so proud, as he watches him take wing?

Is the Baby Bird prepared, as he goes out on his own?
Did he do all that he dared, getting ready to be grown?
Does he know how much we cared, and all the seeds we've sown?
Is the Baby Bird prepared, as he goes out on his own?

                                                                                         Mary Jenkins. 2012

As I thought about this, I reflected on the ways that we had tried to prepare our son for life as an adult. The most important way was not the sports or the music, or the travel…although these were all good bonding experiences. The most important way, was that we taught him about Jesus. We took him to church, where he could hear the Word, and fellowship with Godly believers, who set a good example.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.”

Our children are a gift from God…an inheritance to be treasured. May we give them a good and Godly foundation, so that when they do leave the nest, they will be able to fly…and to return, if need be.

HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY!