Birds of Different Feathers
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV)
Regardless of our differences, why can’t we work together for the cause of Christ? This story by Cathy Mayfield from All God’s Creatures leaves no room for doubt. If the lesser creatures can come together to save a life, we better get squawking and hoppin’!
“Mom, what’s wrong with that blue jay?” Its squawking had lasted fifteen minutes. One look outside showed the problem.
Stretched across the grass ten feet away lay a four-foot black snake. Hopping around nearby, two blue jays screamed their outrage. Between the birds and the serpent cowered a tiny, down covered jay. It must have fallen from its nest.
While wondering what to do, I heard the beautiful notes of a towhee. I saw it across the yard, seeming to add its fury at the situation from a safer distance.
Not willing for the jay to get eaten, I hurried outside, and as I had hoped, the snake slithered away. With that threat gone, we watched as the parents kept jumping and twittering encouragement at their offspring. The tiny bird hopped to the hedge between our property and our neighbor’s.
We watched it crawl up to the top of the hedge, flex it wings, launch into the air, and…fall to the ground. Over and over, it tried.
By now, the towhee had flown. It surprised me to see two cardinals, often considered enemies of the blue jays, fly in to trill their support to the baby jay. Hop up, launch, fall. All four adult birds called in turn, until the little oner succeeded in flying a short distance. We cheered and went about our day, knowing the baby would make it.
Every time I think of this, it reminds me of church families. The unity of those three bird species for one helpless soul reflects the way Jesus wants us to surround those in need, regardless of our station, our color, our age.
Whether rejoicing or helping those we meet,
We embody Jesus’ hands and feet.