This morning is lovely and cool. The distant woods are misty-blue and as still as a painted backdrop. Redwing blackbirds trill in the peat bog. A mother sparrow busily feeds her demanding brood in the corner of the deck. She looked at me warily when I first came out, but sensing no harm, she continued feeding hungry mouths. She makes trip after trip, trying to feed them all. I get tired just watching her.
The devotion of animal mothers has always fascinated and touched me. They are the epitome of self sacrifice. They give food to their babies when they themselves are hungry and keep going even when exhausted.
While watching a nature program a few days ago, I found it hard to swallow around the lump in my throat as it showed a confused mother hippo cuddle up to her stillborn baby. She kept nudging it gently and when it didn’t move, she lay down beside it. She stretched her head protectively over it and settled in to wait for the baby to wake up.
Animal mothers are very brave and will fight to the death for their offspring. I’ve seen birds dive bomb cats, dogs and hawks. They don’t stop to consider the size difference; they just defend their families.
I once found a fledgling bluejay on the ground. I thought to protect it from our dogs and the neighbor’s cat by putting it on a low limb. Just as I reached for it, whoomp! I received a blow to the head that startled me out of my wits. Before I could retreat, another blow followed. I threw my arms over my head and ran to the safety of the porch, pursued by a pair of screaming parent blue-jays. I caught my breath and called David to bring his football helmet.
“Why do you want this, I’m afraid to ask?”
“I want you to pick up that baby bird and put it back in the tree,” I replied. “But, why do I need a helmet just to pick up a baby bird?” “You’ll see.” Our Lord used the image of an animal mother to portray protection and love
in Matthew 23:37: “0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem…How often would I have gathered
thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One