Sunday, June 7, 2015

Stay on the Nest

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” 
--Winston Churchill



Darkness came more quickly tonight. A steady spring rain falling, the outside dusk closing in early.

A Robin built her nest, on eye level, in the big crabapple tree; I could see her little head and her steady black eyes watching us as my daughter and I peered at her through the rain-watered glass. 

The rain coming down, washing over her, she sat on her nest. 

She stayed on her nest, through the damp drizzle, and the unseasonably chilly weather.

She stayed on her nest, keeping her soft-blue eggs warm, her body heat protecting them against the chill air and keeping them from succumbing to the cold weather. 

That sweet mother Robin stayed on her nest. 





The Lord has been speaking to me; the lesson of the Mother Robin touched my heart again in the direction that He's been leading and teaching me. 

Stay on your nest.

Sometimes, many times, mothering isn't easy. 

Many times there is no gratification, no instant reward. Sometimes our kids are just plain ornery and we wonder, "What happened?" 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit may be convicting us about something that He wants us to do differently in our parenting, exchanging the "good," for His "best." 

Don' be discouraged; trust in His wisdom and stay on your nest. 

Keep persevering; keep seeking the Spirit of God in your parenting. Keep trusting, praying, chiseling, hammering, working, pleading with God for their souls; stay on your nest.

Through the good times, through the bad, through the cold and the rain, stay on your nest. 

There are so many temptations, distractions, so many opportunities to "take the easy way out," to plop our children in front of a computer or a TV, to  continually (not occasionally for a respite)  "escape" into a store or a playgroup, to distract ourselves from the hard work of monotonous day-in and day-out grueling work of parenting.

There is even the temptation to "escape" emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, when mothering becomes, "hard." We tune things out -- We ignore difficult parenting situations that we need to address. We tune out our children's voices; we ignore problems rather than praying about them and dealing with them. 

But we must be faithful in the "little things" of mothering -- another lesson that the Lord keeps teaching me. 

"He who is faithful in what is least, will also be faithful in much . . . " (Luke 16:10). 

Be faithful in the things that no one sees, no one notices -- read the extra book, pick up the clutter, use every opportunity to talk to your children about the Lord, to relate everything back to Him.

Be faithful in the drudgery, in the tedious, in the unpleasant and difficult.

Be faithful, because Someone does see; and He will be your Reward. 

And He will reward you -- a tree doesn't bear fruit immediately, but the fruit will come

The Robin's eggs will hatch -- life will come forth -- the fruit of the robin's steadfast perseverance. 



The fruit will come. 

Be patient. Be faithful. Be diligent . Be persevering . . . the fruit will come.

We have all failed. So many times. How many times have I wept, have I ached over the times that I have failed? But the important thing, the vital thing is to run to our Heavenly Father, to repent, to seek His mercies afresh, and to get up, to get back on our nest.

Because in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

Never give up. 

And stay on the nest.  





You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on EarthInspire Me MondayThe Modest MomWhat Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate MondaysSo Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every SeasonA Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony TuesdayTell His StoryA Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention WednesdaysMessy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology ThursdaysChildren Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking ThursdayEvery Day JesusCount My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul SurvivalGood Morning MondaysThe Weekend BrewBlessing Counters Link PartyThe HomeAcre HopMommy Moments Link UpGrace and Truth LinkupFaith Filled FridaySaturday Soiree Blog PartyTell It To Me TuesdaysSHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog HopMotivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-UpA Little R&R WednesdaysTGI Saturdays Blog HopTotally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup

42 comments:

  1. We will reap a harvest! This post is so encouraging. Thank you for the beautiful images. I would love for you to join us on the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith this Tuesday. Your words will speak to other bloggers.

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    1. Thank you, Kelly; I would love to check that out! God bless you; thank you for your encouraging words. :-)

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  2. Beautiful post! So much truth and wisdom packed into this one sentence, "Stay on the nest." Wonderful quote from Winston Churchill too. Grateful to have stopped here this morning!

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    1. Thank you, Joanne! His quote was an encouragement to me, too. I'm glad that you stopped here; God bless you!

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  3. Right now, my "nest: is the Day Camp ministry this summer at our church, and the temptation every year is to say, "I've had enough of this . . ."
    The truth is that this is God's assignment to me right now, and I must persevere. There is so much encouragement in your post today -- and always so much beauty. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Michele; your words encouraged my heart; God bless you and give His grace as you persevere in Day Camp Ministry this summer . . . have a wonderful week!

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  4. Beautiful photographs but an even more beautiful message. so glad you shared at the link up

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    1. Thank you, Kim! It was a blessing and I was so glad to find these images that really illustrated what I was trying to convey--God bless you!

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  5. This is a powerful, visual demonstration of the fruit coming in due time. Such good thoughts today. Thank you for sharing. :) And, the pictures are just lovely.

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl; it is such a source of comfort to me to know that our labor in Him is not in vain. Thank you for your encouragement; the Lord bless you!

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  6. Beautiful pictures and message. It was a great reminder to me to bring everything to the Lord in prayer, big and little things, and then to trust Him and do my part by staying on the nest!

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    1. Thank you, Emily! It seems like the Lord keeps bringing me back to this lesson--like you said--bringing everything to Him--and persevering. I'm so glad that you visited; may God give both of us the grace that we need! :-)

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  7. Beautiful , encouraging & convicting words !
    thank you

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  8. Beautiful encouragement! Parenting can be so tough some days, but great reminder to persevere and trust God will help us grow these children into wonderful adults.

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    1. Thank you, Kathryn; I'm glad that you stopped by! :-)

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  9. This is the best post I've read all week. Thank you for such beautifully expressed encouragement from the Lord.


    Please drop by and say hello!

    Blessings,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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  10. As I read this my four young ones are still in bed. Soon the barrage will begin! Ha! Thank you for the encouragement you have given me this morning in the task that lies ahead. Have a blessed day, Rebekah!

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    1. Oh, you're welcome, Heather! I hope that you have a blessed day as well!

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  11. So blessed to stop by and read your post today. Love this! Being faithful requires a sweet surrender to our mighty and powerful God. Your neighbor at the #RaRalinkup

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    1. Stephanie, yes--so true--"being faithful requires a a sweet surrender" to the Lord. I love the way that you phrased that! He is such a faithful and merciful God!

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  12. I needed this post today, Rebekah! I'm not a parent yet, but there are so many things in my life right now that feel like "sitting on the nest," waiting for results and wondering if I've gone wrong somewhere. Thank you for the encouragement to stay the course! Oh, and I love the quote and pictures--I'm a quote-and-pictures gal myself! :) Visiting from Purposeful Faith--so glad we're linkup neighbors today!

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    1. Katie, I'm so glad that it was encouraging . . . I know very well what you mean --I feel like my theme in life has been one of waiting (and boy, I am not through learning yet :-)). He is such a faithful and merciful Father--and I can truly say, He is good to those who hope in Him.

      I'm glad that we are neighbors; I'm going to stop by your blog in a few minutes! :-)

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  13. What a sweet, encouraging post, friend. We just started summer vacation here and it's been a transition. But you are so right - I want to stay on the nest and do the hard work and be the mom God has called me to be. I love this - it's like a new mantra!

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    1. Thank you, Jen! Your kind words are so encouraging . . . have a blessed week. :-)

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  14. I love this post. It's encouragement I needed as I evaluate what I need to be doing in this season of my life.

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    1. I'm so glad, Rose! May He bless you and fill you with His strength as you honor Him!

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  15. What a powerful analogy between the bird on the nest and mothering our children. Sometimes we grow tired and weary. It is good that His mercies are new every morning. I had a lovely time visiting you today from Coffee and Conversation.

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    1. Cheryl, yes, so true--what a good reminder for me--that His mercies are new every morning . . . especially at the end of a long day, I need to remember this!

      God bless you!

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  16. So beautifully written Bekki!

    My "nest is empty" now... But I can see the areas that the Lord has blessed His work through me in the years that He prompted me to "stay on the nest". Years of sacrifice that may have seemed difficult at the time, but from the perspective of looking back now, I see them as some of the happiest times of my life.

    I always encourage young moms to savor every moment, the good and the bad, because one day they too will look back and cherish those memories as absolutely wonderful.

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    1. Karen, you are always such an encouragement--your words spoke to me--"Years of sacrifice that may have seemed difficult at the time, but from the perspective of looking back now, I see them as some of the happiest times of my life." That is so very, very true--the Lord will honor those who honor Him--and He gives joy through the obedience of surrender. He is worthy!

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  17. I love "stay on the nest" that has so much encouragement packed into those words! So blessed to be your neighbor at A Little R&R

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    1. Thank you, Winter! I'm glad that you stopped by! God bless you!

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  18. What a wonderfully encouraging post. When you are in the midst of all the mayhem of mothering, it is hard to see the positives. But He has given us this amazing gift to care for on earth and we must stay on the nest and do our very best. I love the analogy - fabulous!

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    1. Thank you for your encouraging words, Jayne; you are right--motherhood is such a beautiful gift. I'm glad that you stopped here today; God bless you!

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  19. This picture of the birds nest means so much to me! Thanks for sharing this truth and linking up to the blog hop!

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  20. I wish I could find the right words to say... But all I have is a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

    Thank you :)

    Blessings,
    Tiffany

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    1. Tiffany, I'm grateful that it was encouraging . . . . may the Lord bless you in every way.

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  21. Looks like we're both sporting nests with eggs this week in our posts and link-ups! Though, I have finch eggs and am a bit worried that mother has left her next due to our inadvertently removing the hanging basket where she'd laid her two eggs, so as to water the begonia. That's when we discovered the nest. I haven't seen too much finch activity since. Boo, if we scared her and her red plumed spouse away. A good word here for the young moms, though mine are flown and living to His glory. I guess I stayed on the nest.
    Joy to you!
    Kathy

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