Teenagers and mangy birds--reasons to have hope

It was the mangiest bird I’ve ever seen.

Perched on my bird feeder early one morning, the poor thing looked like it had been sucked up and spit out by a vacuum cleaner. Feathers were sticking straight up on its head like a little boy’s impersonation of a great Indian chief. Tiny and sparsely feathered, its head looked disproportionate sitting atop a full-grown body. Spotted chest feathers alternated with grey down, giving it a rumpled, unkempt appearance. As it picked up a sunflower seed, it turned it around and around in its beak, finally managing to crack the hard shell and eat the seed inside.

I realized I was gazing at the adolescent link between a fledgling and a fully mature bird.

It was not pretty.

These teenaged birds reminded me of teenaged humans who have crossed my path, shared my pew, and lived in my household. 

They are gangly, awkward, and challenged.

They are also lovely.

They are beautiful to me, because they embody potential. When I look beneath their mismatched feathers and awkward body forms, I see glimpses of the beautiful adults they will one day become.

Though on some days they bear little resemblance to their more mature parents, they are storehouses of raw material with which God can work. Their willingness to embrace change and adventure embolden me to try new things, step out, and be brave. 

And though they squabble and fight over which seed looks the tastiest and which perch on the feeder is best, they also scatter seeds on the ground for other, more timid birds to share. At times they bite off more than they can handle, but they persevere and, with a little encouragement, ultimately taste success. They’re not afraid to fly, and their resiliency and bold spirit helps them overcome even the occasional miscalculated landing that sends them crashing into a windowpane. 

If you’re the parent of a teenager, take a moment to look beyond the surface. Don’t let the awkwardness of today blind you to the potential of the future. Glory in what is good, and train, model, and pray into being that which is lacking. Trust that “he who began a good work . . . will be faithful to complete it” (Philippians 1:6).









 If you enjoyed this devotion, may I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

 

If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner

Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.