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Jeremiah 24:6a – My eyes will watch over them for their good. (NIV)
On April 21, to our delight, a pair of robins returned to their former nest under the neighbour's roof eave. Again, we can watch the progress via closed-circuit video.
This season, I've been especially struck by the male robin's fatherly behaviour — notably, his watchfulness. Even while he is off somewhere, he seems to know what's happening on the home front. Whenever Mama Robin flies off for a break from egg-sitting, I can be sure that he'll shortly fly in to guard the nest. He doesn't sit on the eggs. He stands on the edge and hovers over the nest like a security guard on high alert. I enjoy watching the constant movements of his head. His eyes focus back and forth between the nest's interior and the wider surroundings. Papa Robin is fully attentive to his charge — all the time. That's remarkable fatherly vigilance.
I wish to keep that observation embedded in my mind. For whenever I feel vulnerable, that image of Papa Robin will remind me of God's fatherly vigilance hovering over me. Even when it seems like God is far off, I can trust that He is fully attentive and present. His watchfulness is constant, and it is protective, just as His dear ones have been promised:
2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (NIV)
One might argue that the bird is merely behaving according to natural instinct. He's programmed that way for the survival of the species. In response, I would note that Papa Robin's behaviour reflects God's very nature — for a similar reason. God's kingdom family continues to survive and expand through His fatherly vigilance. It will never go extinct!
That's a grand, eternal promise. Yet, I find myself most deeply assured through my heavenly Father's watchful eye on me personally. That seems to be what the psalmists experienced. It's why their psalms are so endearing and personal.
Perhaps, you'd like to join me in these prayers for God's personal fatherly vigilance, drawn from Psalms 17:8, 40:11, and 142:3.
Prayer: O my Lord, keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings. May Your love and faithfulness always protect me. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way. Amen.
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Thank you.
Thanks for the encouragement, Diane.
Beautiful uplifting post, Diane! Thanks and blessings!
Thank you, Diane. Just think, we’re the apple of His eye!
Bless you! Thanks for that image of the Father’s care!
(BC)
Hello Diane,
Thank you for your story “Fatherly Vigilance” in today’s PresbyCan Devotion. It is a beautiful parallel to the scriptures.
Thank you for sharing.
(ON)
Good morning, Diane,
Thank you for this precious reminder. When reading this I could sense His arms around me. He proves Himself in so many ways just how faithful and true the Word is.
God bless you.
Thank you, Diane, for this sweet story about the watchful father robin. It is always so interesting and amazing to watch the actions of the little creatures our God has created. I agree with you how precious it is to reflect and remember the words in the Psalms and your closing prayer is very reflective on that. Blessings for this special writing.
Hi Diane,
I am also grateful that God is vigilant and is always aware of when I need a little more tender care.
Thanks for sharing the story about the father robin who I thought would sit on the eggs, but he doesn’t. He plays security guard which is also a very important role. Blessings.
Thank you, Diane, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. The robins built a nest in my Rhododendron bush but when Daddy robin brought Momma to see it, she turned up her beak at his efforts. To my untrained eye nothing seemed wrong with it…evidently, she disagreed. They’re nesting in the spruce trees across the way. I was looking forward to following the progress of their nesting activities. Blessings.
Thank you for these comforting words – Amen.