This past year has been a busy time for home sellers, buyers and builders. Seems like everyone I know is moving – downsizing or upsizing or custom fitting – everyone in search of the perfect home. Even my own sisters are in the process of building homes. I am not looking for a new home at the moment but today I stumbled (almost literally) across one on my morning walk. It was quite well made and the owners must have already moved out because I found it completely empty. The location is good, I found it under some tall pine trees surrounded by a lovely green lawn. Well, actually it was situated on the edge of the sidewalk, next to the lawn, underneath the overhanging pine branches.

At this point it is probably best that I confess – the home I am referring to is a bird home. It is not a human made birdhouse though, this nest is the handiwork of the bird owners themselves. Or perhaps they contracted the nest building out to some of their bird friends. At any rate, the work was top notch. I normally view nests from a distance. I am on the ground, they are high up in various trees. Usually, birds’ nests are not visible until autumn, when the leaves fall and they are exposed. By that time though, their occupants have usually flown south for the winter. Except maybe cardinals. But they make their homes in evergreen trees, probably knowing that these pines don’t lose their leaves. (needles)

This morning I wished my bird loving, bird watching friend had been with me. She might know what kind of bird builds this kind of a nest. It was exquisite. I was amazed by its composition, design and sturdiness. I wanted to take it with me, but felt that would be stealing. The owners might return. Perhaps they have a way of returning their homes to their original location in the tree’s branches and I wouldn’t want to interfere with that. So I left the nest where I found it, not knowing what else to do.

This is definitely one of those days when I wish technology and I were better friends. Then I could have taken a picture of this perfect bird abode and put it here with this post for you all to see for yourselves. I so wish you could have seen it, dear readers. I often sub in a high school ceramics class and I watch the students struggle to fashion small pots from the clay, either by hand or on the wheel. Either way it is often a frustrating process, as I watch them collapse their clay into a ball and start over again and again and again. The finished products are often asymmetrical and a little bumpy in places. It is a hard skill to learn.

That’s what was so surprising about this nest. It looked like a small pot. It was symmetrical and smooth on the inside. (since it was empty I could see and feel the inside) The outside had grass and pine needles woven into the dried dirt/mud/clay? or whatever it was. Of course they were no longer green but a brown color. The inside, however, was smooth – no grass, twigs etc. woven into the surface, just the – what do I call it? – mud? It was not mushy but it was not brittle or dried out either. Since I assumed this nest had fallen from the tree standing next to it, I was surprised it had survived the fall intact, except for a small hole in the bottom.

The more I looked at this bird nest, the more I could hardly believe my eyes. It was so perfectly formed, well constructed and could obviously withstand the elements of nature. Maybe because it was made of all natural materials. Truly, it was a thing of beauty to behold. Who knew birds were such master builders? Well, I guess the One who knows when even a sparrow falls to the ground, knows how skilled birds are at home building. After all, their Creator created them with that innate ability. It is a gift from Him. Their nests reflect the glory and the mystery of their Creator/Sustainer, God.

Today as I write this post, I am reminded of Psalm 127:1, which says –

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”

God gives the birds the ability to build their homes and He does even more for them.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:13-16)

Even now, God, the master builder, is preparing a home for me and for you. I have seen and been surprised by the precision and the beauty of what the bird builders have made. Yet I know it does not compare to what awaits. Jesus said,

“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)

Jesus is building us a home for eternity,

sincerely, Grace Day