We have a resident robin living at our address. She built her nest on one of the cross beams under our second floor deck. If you take the stairway from the deck to the back yard you can look into Robin's nest and see her babies.

Robin's babies under our deck.

Robins are called the "standard " of birds and even earned the cover picture on "A Golden Guide - Birds", my go-to bird book. "The largest of the thrush family with spotted breasts on the young, raise two or three broods each year." They are know for their recognizable "robin-blue" eggs.

Our "Robin" isn't your usual finely polished beauty of rich brown and striking orange. Robin is well-worn, slightly damaged but insistently protective of her family. Her breast has faded to a grayish orange and on one of her feet she has something hanging off...it looks like feathers but it never goes away so it must be connected.

Robin hates it when we are in the yard or on the deck and she screams her distaste at us over and over until we leave. Robin flies at our heads and lands on the roof near us or perches herself on the deck posts saying, "Go away! Get away from my home and my family! This is my area and you are invading my space! Scram! Now!"

Typically, we just ignore her or actually we have begun talking to her whenever we go outside, trying to calm Robin down. It never works, but it seems like the only thing to do. She should know by now that we aren't going to harm her babies or herself, but she remains protective in her role as Mother Robin. Trust isn't one of her strong points.

Robin appears to have a partner some of the time. But they don't seem to get along very well. They sit on opposite posts and spar with each other, rather angrily it seems. Perhaps it is another mother robin who wants Robin's nest. I don't understand bird talk.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you saying 'Destroy him!' (Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV).

Robin's bird brain won't let her understand that we are not a threat. We are her enemy. I wonder if Robin knows her Creator as we do. We have a Protector, our Refuge, our Eternal God with loving, everlasting arms who will drive out our enemies! If only I would put my trust in Him always.

With open arms, God awaits.

He clears our path of enemies,

He is our refuge and our guard. Amen.