“Momma Birdie --A True Story”

By: Amy Cardiff

Dedicated to all the great mama’s!

I have heard it said, “Lead with the end in mind.” You never know when the end will be...

A week ago, I was out trimming my flowers and pulling my weeds when all of a sudden, this little sparrow started buzzing around me. She was squeaking and squawking, flying in front of me and all around me. I kept cutting my plants, picking up leaves, and doing my thing, but pretty soon, she became so persistent.

Why was little bird swooning all around me (I asked myself)?  She was trying to tell me something! I kept cutting!  I kept going. But just as I was pulling back some mint to cut, I saw it!  IT!!!  “It” was nestled in the corner of my herb planter… a little nest with 4 blue, perfect eggs. I told the little bird, “Ohhhhh, I see what you are telling me now!”

She was a “Momma Birdie.” She was protecting her beautiful, precious little nest. She was telling me in the only way she knew how, “I am a Momma Birdie.” I understand that because I am a mama, too. I apologized to the little bird because I knew all too well what it is like to protect your babies at all costs. She was doing just that!  AMAZING, WONDERFUL, POWERFUL, PRECIOUS, LIFE AFFIRMING!

I went to bed thinking of my little Momma Birdie and how well she was guarding her nest and her great skill of communicating!

The next morning, I went outside to check on “Momma Birdie” first thing in the morning.  It was early, and the sun was not up quite yet. I pulled back the mint to see the nest, and three little babies had hatched, barely the size of a fingernail. The little bodies barely formed and beaks moving occasionally. Why had only 3 of the eggs hatched? One egg was still sitting there without even a crack,

I called my own mom to ask what she thought. Maybe it was a dud! I went to work as normal, but thinking about the new little bird family and Momma Birdie. That night, I came home and checked on the little nest, and the fourth egg had hatched! Now 4 little babies! Wow! I was filled with delight!  Momma Birdie was close by, perched on a bougainvillea branch! She once again told me, “Stay away from my babies.” I called my mom again.  She told me to put some bird seeds and water out for Momma Birdie. I did that! I put out one bowl of birdseed and another little red bowl of water on the table outside, right next to the herb planter.

The next morning, I woke up to a mess of bird seed splattered all around the table. Momma Birdie had had an overnight feast. All week, I filled the water and food, checked on the babies, and watched Momma Bird feed them. She was amazing! The babies were amazing, their tiny beaks expecting food with open mouths. Their bodies became more formed each day.

Momma Birdie seemed to get used to me. She didn’t fly away when I was out there, and she looked at me as though she understood me.

One week and one day later, I was out watering the plants and momma birdie swooned around me again as if to tell me something once again, I just kept going. Her babies were doing well and I knew not to bother them. I told her that she was a wonderful “momma birdie” and was doing great. She peeped as she stood on her little branch overlooking the nest.  I looked at her in awe. One little bird could do so much. She was so determined!  It amazed me. I thought about her a lot all week, but that night, she was telling me something.

I just couldn’t understand what?! I went to bed after spending the evening with my own kiddos, having dinner and talking. We all knew about Momma Birdie by now. I called her “my bird”. My daughter reminded me she wasn’t my bird. But I thought she was. I went to bed. This morning I woke up and went outside to check on momma birdie. She was gone! The babies were gone! All that remained was the little nest in the corner of my herb garden.  

That was what she was trying to tell me last night. She was thanking me and letting me know her job as momma birdie was complete. I watched over her, fed and watered her, and now she is gone. Motherhood is the greatest gift God has given me. It’s amazing how instinctual it is to watch over and care for our kids at all costs.

This story is real, and especially real for me, as I, too, will have my babies both leave the nest in a few weeks. I did my job as a momma birdie did hers. My kids will go off into the world just as momma birdie’s babies now fly away on their own.

Speaking of “Last-times,” you never know when it will be the last time—the last time for a hug, the last time for a word, the last party, the last time to say goodbye, the last time to be amazed by a momma birdie, her babies, and her beautiful little nest.

Life is beautiful and amazing. Enjoy every minute. Lead your life with the end in mind. You never know when it will be your last.

P.S. My mom just texted me that Momma Birdie might just be out giving them flying lessons. That made me smile.

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