Last night as we ate dinner, we were treated to a glimpse of
the cardinal courting ritual. A male and
female cardinal came to the birdfeeder together. Seeing them together is not typical during
most of the year. The male sat directly
in front of the seed, while the female was at a right angle to him on the side
of the perch. He picked up a seed and
placed it in her mouth. She accepted
it. He fed her several times. If he didn’t do this quickly enough, she sat
there with her mouth open waiting until he caught on to his responsibility.
If Mr. Cardinal is going to “get lucky” tonight, he has to
prove that he knows how to take care of a lady and provide for a family. Unfortunately, human beings aren’t wise
enough to figure this out. Young women
in our culture have accepted the lie that they can be sexually “liberated,” and
that if things don’t work out, they can make it as single mothers. Some teenage girls look upon having a child
as a status symbol, or at least, something that gives meaning to their
lives. If any thought is given to the
realities of caring for a child, it is “magical” thinking that is not based in
reality at all.
Here are some interesting statistics I found. Although two-thirds of single mothers are employed
outside the home, only two-fifths are employed full-time year round. The average income of a family headed by a
single mom is only one-third of the average income of a family comprised of a
married couple. So, most children being
raised by single mothers are being raised in poverty.
I have seen this problem close up. My heart breaks for young women who have made
unwise choices and whose children suffer the consequences. If they were birds, they wouldn’t survive. Because they are people, and there are
programs in place to assist, they “survive,” but not necessarily in a healthy
fashion.
I have also watched a cute little downy woodpecker come to
the bird feeder over and over. Each time
he picks up a seed, he carries it to the same spot in the large maple
tree. I do not see the female at the
feeder until late in the summer. It is
apparently his duty to bring home the food, and he does it with diligence. As I watch him hurry back and forth, I am
filled with admiration. I love that
little bird.
God has placed wisdom in the instincts of His
creatures. He has placed a conscience in
those who are made “in His image.” Our
culture has taught young women to ignore their conscience and accept something less
than God intended. Our culture has
taught young men that they can get away with being irresponsible. They do not have to prove themselves in order
to have the privilege of mating. Our
young women are not wise enough to wait like Lady Cardinal with mouth open
expecting to be fed. Our young men are
not diligent enough to exhaust themselves like Mr. Downy Woodpecker in
providing for their families.
If only humans were as wise as birds…….