We have to talk about the budgie again. I don’t want to
become a crazy bird blogger, but I need to explain Carl’s last attempt to assassinate
me was my fault. Not that anyone was concerned about my
wellbeing, most comments contained inquiries about the bird.
Carl arrived at our household with “clipped wings.” Her flight feathers had been trimmed so she could fly but could not readily gain altitude. Clipping a bird’s wings
takes skill. Done properly, your bird gets around, but not out the window to hang with delinquents on the corner. Done wrong, your bird becomes a drunken menace,
careening across the landscape, liable to hurt themselves and whoever else they
can injure in the process.
I remember thinking clipping a birds' wings was unkind and
barbaric. That depriving a bird of
flight would make it depressed and forlorn. As a result, I
decided to let Carl’s wing grow out.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of
death.
Prov 14:12
I did not anticipate the regrowth of Carl’s flight feathers
would correspond perfectly with the onset of avian puberty. Height and dominance issues were unfamiliar
terms. If I knew that landing on the
curtain rod was the way to attain social dominance, I would have taken out my
ladder and dusted the ceiling for a while.
As it turns out Carl did it first, concluding our family system was
inferior, lacking leadership and direction.
She decided to whip the family into shape by landing on people’s heads
and shrieking orders at the top of her lungs.
Soon after budgie boot camp started, she realized that we were stupid
and could not follow orders. Carl added
corporal punishment to the regimen and began biting any human that fed or offered
her affection. Within one month, Carl
had caused a dozen fights between family members. My husband was furious. Carl was at risk of being put in a Panini
press and displayed on Pintrest as food art.
Compassionate thoughts of species equality went flying out
the window. I was in a war. I needed to reassert dominance quickly or die
showering. As a conservative
homeschooler, I knew I needed high quality research to perform my next
move. One afternoon on youtube and my
daughter and I set to clipping Carl’s wings.
The results were immediate and miraculous. Gone was the evil overlord budgie. Gone was the domineering shrew. Gone was the I-don’t-need-you-I-can-do-it-myself
attitude. She became affectionate once
more. She needed us and liked us
again. Our Carl had been humbled.
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. Ps
18:27
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Jam 4:6
Scripture is clear regarding our God’s attitude toward a
proud heart. Carl’s behavior change was
a remarkable illustration of the value of correction. It got me thinking, has the Lord clipped your
wings lately? Have you been
overconfident, which lead you to an outcome less pleasing than you had hoped?
Or perhaps you thought you were clever, until you read a situation wrong, and
needed to apologize to another. There
are many ways in which we tell the Lord we don’t need him, so many ways we
rebuff his kind help. We tend to ignore
our arrogance until the Lord mercifully steps in to deal with our domineering
hearts.
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as
sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which
all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who
disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the
Father of spirits and live? For they
disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines
us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful
rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it. Heb:12 6-11
Be encouraged this week my friend. You are not alone as you walk down tough
roads. Our God sees you. He intends to take you through the difficult
places. He intends them for your good,
and to bring you out again. He is
creating something beautiful in you, so that you may enjoy the harvest of
righteousness when His work is finished.
He loves you and he wants you sitting close and singing, not spiraling
out of control cussing from the rafters.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall
to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matt
10:29-31
Unpleasant as it seems, He would rather clip your wings and
keep you close.
Take heart, and keep standing.
Thinking of you this week,
xoxKaren
