My Friends, The Robins
In the front of my house is a large blue spruce that Nancy & I planted over 30 years ago. This spring on one of the lower branches at eye level a Robin built her nest. I would walk out each morning and watch her as she built it and then one day four beautiful blue eggs arrived. It didn’t seem long before three of the eggs hatched. It was such a joy to watch the glory of God’s creation transform this wondrous vision right before my eyes. I was amazed at how quickly they would grow. Sometimes I would lightly push down on the branch and they thought momma was there with breakfast. Immediately they would pop up with their little mouths wide open hoping to be the first to get fed. This past week they left the nest for the first time. One of them stayed very close to the nest and I would walk right up within inches and talk to it. Of course it didn’t move (I’m sure momma taught it well) but I felt a profound connection to this miracle of creation. I know I’m getting old because I find myself crying over the silliest of things, and yes I cried. I cried because I knew this little baby bird had so much ahead of it to do. It seemed afraid. Maybe that’s why it didn’t want to leave the nest like the others did? But I also felt great peace because I knew that God had provided every thing that little bird would need to be a beautiful Robin. I also knew this peace I felt was not just for the Robin but also for me. I know now better then I have ever know that God has provided me everything I need to be his child.
In the last post there was great passion that came out of the hearts all that wrote in. Some agreed with the post and others didn’t, but let me say with all the passion I can say it with that I NEVER feel superior to those who disagree with me. I know there is a very good reason in our glorious creation that God allows us to see things from different perspectives and sometimes even complete disagreement. I also know that just as God provides for my little friend who lives in the blue spruce, He also provides us with everything we need to accomplish our journey on earth. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I ALWAYS WANT TO PROJECT ON THIS SITE IS FREEDOM AND RESPECT.
Freedom to be where you are in your spiritual journey and know that you will always be accepted here at boldgrace. The freedom we have is not something we give, it’s something we have become aware of, and true freedom applies to ALL. Christ died to set us FREE and the last thing we ever want to do here at Boldgrace is stifle anyones freedom.
Respect does not mean agreement. True respect means you can vehemently disagree with someone but you still honor and love them because you realize you are connected by the glory of God’s creation. You realize that when you demean or attack them you are demeaning and attacking yourself.
This site is about FREEDOM & RESPECT going together hand in hand. We must always have the freedom to express where we are in our spiritual journey. I never felt that when I was involved in the organized church and that’s why it is so important to me to allow everyone to express themselves. At the same time we must continually remind ourselves in this expression that each of us are at different places in our journey, but being in different places does not mean we can’t respect each other. Freedom & Respect are two words that I try to keep at the forefront of every post and every comment that I make.
Like my friends, the Robins, God is watching us grow, leave the nest, find our way, and be his children. I want this site to be a place that He is proud of. Where he could say: " Look at my children, how they are talking, debating, sharing, disagreeing, and yet they love each other so much."
All of you who come here have my promise that I will always do my best to honor your freedom and respect you regardless of where you are in relation to where I am.
I feel a great connection to my friends the Robins, but I feel that same connection to every human being that I meet in life or on this site.
Bold Grace is a grace that can overcome every barrier, every wall, and every disagreement, and God has provided us with the Boldest Grace we could ever imagine.
As my friend Steve would say, "Come and sit at our table, enjoy the feast, and feel the love that overwhelms us all."
That was beautiful, Cliff. Your story about the robins reminded me of when I was pregnant last summer. Under the roof by my front door some birds built a nest. I am not sure what type of birds they were but they looked like some sort of dove. They were a light grey and beige color and so beautiful. I had never seen these birds before. Here I was pregnant and alone, watching this couple of birds building their family together. Before I knew it, two babies hatched.
I would watch them every day. Eventually they came down and practiced flying and hopped around our porch. They were so cute how they hopped around. Sometimes they would pop out of the bushes. This all happened as I came to the end of my pregnancy. I began to think how much I was going to love my son and enjoy all of his milestones. I think it kind of gave me peace and I felt happy watching these birds.
I felt like God was telling me it was going to be ok and that having my son would bring me so much joy even though I was doing it alone. Life is such a miracle in so many ways. Cliff, you made me cry!
Amen, Cliff! You said it all and said it very well.
Thanks Cliff
Dad,
That was wonderful. I am so thankful that I could wake up on my birthday and read this. What a special gift.
I love you soooooo much Dad.
Mindy
Happy Birthday, Mindy! I hope you have a fantastic day.
Cliff
It seems to me that you have always had a strange relationship with our feathered freinds. I still recall the dead white rock chicken you found wraped up and gave to me as a christmas gift, but i still love ya bro…
That was beautful Cliff
Mindy Happy Birthday hopes it a great one
And hey Doug…….you know even though that dead chicken was a joke I still felt sorry for its untimely death, but at least it gave us a great story to tell for the rest of our lives……love you to Bro.
Thank you Julia and Jennifer!!
Last night my little girl asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told her, in this stressed out voice, “some sunshine would be nice.” All we seem to have had lately is rain and cooler weather. So, I woke up this morning to the sun. My Abbygirl says, “how do you like your present?” I said, “Where is it?” She says, “MOM?, it is sunny outside!!” Then I got a hug and a kiss.
Aww that’s so sweet Mindy. Hope you have a Happy Birthday!
Thanks Kiara!
Mindy
Just curious how old are you? and will you be at the barbecue also?
John T.
Hi cliff,just popped in to say hello to all my fiend’s here at bold grace.
Nice story cliff,and what you said here,Bold Grace is a grace that can overcome every barrier, every wall, and every disagreement, and God has provided us with the Boldest Grace we could ever imagine.
Amen bro,that’s me away now to share his unconditional love with the rest of humanity.Thank God he made us all one in christ,Gal,..3v28.
Btw happy birthday mindy although i’m a bit late in saying it.
keep your heart’s and mind’s established in his grace for you all.
grace and peace and joy and peace in your believing.
You are loved beyond measure.
kenneth
John,
I am 33 years old and yes, I will be at the BQ! I hear you are coming? Can’t wait to drink a beer with ya!
Kenneth,
Thank you for the happy birthday. I did have a good b-day. I got to watch the final American Idol
Belated happy birthday from me, too, Mindy! Were you a David Cook fan?! I have favored him from the beginning and was thrilled to see him win! He seems like a real class act!
happy birthday mindy! i missed it! oh well. you are almost a year older than my sister.