Out my front window we have a grove of tall pine trees. We occasionally see a hawk gliding over the tree tops looking for small pray. Today I watched this hawk gliding back and forth in a purposeful pattern. In an instant a sparrow shot up from the trees and nipped at the hawk’s tail feathers. The hawk and sparrow danced about ten feet above the tree line for fifteen minutes. The hawk glided over the tree tops testing and teasing the sparrow, threatening a sudden dive at the sparrows nest. The sparrow flew around, swooping at the hawk keeping it away from the nest. The small sparrow tempted to keep a predator ten times her size from her nest with her agility and determination. The size difference is amazing and the speed of the sparrow nipping at the hawk actually kept the hawk from swooping down. The relentless efforts of the sparrow paid off in this instance. The hawk tired of the fight for its food and left for easier prey. The sparrow was steadfast in her attempt to keep her nest from harm and accomplished it this time.
We can apply this to our lives and the way we protect our children. The predator or hawk of our day is the influence of the media and constant attack of information. The large amount and intensity of bombardment is a threat to keeping kids safe. We may try to control what they see and hear at home, yet they are going to be exposed outside. It is our relentless efforts as parents to keep them protected and teaches them the tools that they will need to fight off the negative pressures that they will come across in their peer groups. If we can give them the right armor then they can fight at their will.
