Precious Life

It was about five thirty on Tuesday evening.  I'm getting the dinner ready when my husband said, "Oh- look! A bird hit our french glass door and is lying here." "Oh.. he must have broken his neck,... He's dying" he added as he stepped in from our porch. 

I instantly felt the sadness of a life at the death's door.  I didn't know what to do, but I just didn't like the fact that a life is dying on our porch.  I told him to do something.  He thinks that he won't live.  I wanted to ease his pain if it truly is the case where he broke his neck. 

One can easily thinks the worst because the way he was lying there was so awkward even to look at him.  His head was positioned in a way that his neck was crooked in a "L" shape...  He was lying on his back and couldn't get himself to move much.  His body barely moved from heavy breathing for a few seconds and then stopped.  Then it would vibrate a bit more and then it  stopped.

I couldn't just watch or wait for this bird to slowly reach death.  I got the rubber gloves out and was going to do 'something,' not knowing what that something was.  I gently touched the bird on the side and this somehow gave the bird enough of a push that he rolled to the side and propped up and sat on his feet.  This gave me hope!  

However, he sat there and just sat for a long while.  No blink of an eye.  No movement.  He just sat still.  Slowly, I was starting to doubt if this bird is going to make it.  It was dark out on the porch and I didn't want the bird to sit there all night long.  He sure would get eaten by a bobcat or some other animals around our house.  It was getting cold too and I began to worry more.

I called up a friend who was a vet and asked her what I should do.  She gave me some pointers and suggested a few things.  She said that the bird might be going through a shock if he indeed hit the window hard.  I got my honey water ready and a box with shredded papers on the bottom.  Whether the bird makes it to live or not, I determined, that it will be in our garage and not in the cold with many dangerous animals around.

I knocked her beak with my spoon and that little body just jerked up and down, back and forth. I thought to myself that this bird was dying slowly... motionlessly. Hoping and wishing I tried again, knocking her beak. I didn't know how to make her beak open, so I finally gave up trying and poured the honey water (from my spoon) on top of her beak. Then, I tried to crack her beak open from the side way. It finally moved! He opened his beak and tasted the honey water. I gave him a bit more.

Now, I got my box out next to him, ready to put him away for the night.  I took a deep breath and carefully and gently, I attempted to grab him with my two hands. (This was my first time doing such as this so I wasn't fast or confident) As my hands got tighter around his small body, he resisted. Instantly, he took off flying to a place nearby... Wow...

What a surprise! It was a relief when he opened his mouth for the honey water, but it was a real thrill when he flew away! It was such a joy to see him flying away, knowing that he is alive. If then how much more God would desire us to be healed, healthy, and live vibrantly!!  He is a good God indeed!

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)