Christy, our daughter, lives in Alaska. She works in a big, tall building by the ocean. One day a pair of seagulls built a nest where she could see it. They laid three little eggs in the nest.
When the eggs hatched, Christy watched the babies grow up. One day, the biggest baby seagull tried to pull himself up out of the nesting area. He stood on the edge of the nest and flapped his wings. He jumped and fluttered down to a near-by roof. The seagull parents were so happy! They tried to get the other two babies to fly, too.
But the smaller babies wanted to stay in the nest. They talked to each other and decided not to fly. The mama and daddy seagulls flew around them, scolding and saying, “Come on! Come on!”
Finally, one of the babies climbed up on the edge of the nest. He looked down. Oooooh! What a long way to the ground! He turned around and started chattering to the other baby. “NO WAY am I going to jump off this nest!” he chirped.
The mama and daddy seagulls screeched at him and made him get back into the nest before he fell backward! The baby seagull cuddled down next to the other baby and didn’t move. “Come on! Come on!” cried the parents.
“NO!” he chirped and closed his eyes.
The next day, the mama and daddy seagulls scolded the babies in the nest until they obeyed. Do you think they were scared to jump off that building? I think they were! But they finally got brave enough to try. Now all the baby seagulls are flying outside Christy’s window. They fly down to the water and catch clams for breakfast. They can go everywhere their parents go.
Growing up means we have to learn to do new things. Even Jesus had to grow up! “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:52, New Living Translation)
How do we grow in wisdom? The Bible says, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (Proverbs 9:10, New Living Translation) When we deeply respect God and learn all we can about him, and talk to him in prayer, we grow wise as we grow tall, like Jesus did.
Until the next campfire, I’m sending you . . .
Hugs & kisses,
Montana Gramma