Bird

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.” (Genesis 18:15).

Sarah Leading Hagar to Abraham (Caspar Netscher)

Our family recently received a beautiful parrakeet as a gift.

It is a strange thing to give someone else a pet as a gift because when you give them that gift you are assuming that they are mentally prepared for the amount of work that will be involved in keeping that pet happy and healthy and looked after.

In our case, though we were surprised by our new pet, we certainly were happy to receive him.  After some initial adjustments as we got used to him and he became used to us, this little bird became a lovely little addition to our family.

I have been thinking about this bird because it reminds me of the gift of a child to a family.

Very often in the history of the world has a child been conceived unexpectedly.  Very often children were born not out of planned interactions but as a result of the unplanned coming together of their parents.  In the vast majority of cases, these children are born to two loving parents who – whether they were expecting them or not – love them very much.  Occasionally, though these children are born under circumstances that are not ideal.  Perhaps there is no love between their parents, or one f their parents is sick or there is such terrible poverty (or such youth in their parents) that their parents cannot look after them at all.  But mostly, children are born into families where there is love in some form.

I have been thinking about this as I have been thinking about this bird.  You see, I was not expecting this pet just as many mothers are surprised to learn that they are going to have a child.  Sara, wife of Abraham, was so convinced that she would have no other children that she had the audacity to laugh at God Himself who promised this…

“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?  And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?  Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.  Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.” (Genesis 18:12-15).

And yet, God makes a way for everyone in that family to make room to love that child.  Even when that child is sick.  Even when the parents are sick.  Even when people are afraid and cannot see the way forward.  God – in His plan for the universe and every single thing in it – makes a plan so that everyone has a place and every soul has merit.

This is the same God who invited Judas to follow Him – knowing that Judas would betray Him.  Because God gives every child a chance, and it occurs to me today – looking at my new bird – that we are being asked to do the same!

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.