A Home for the Birds

For several years we fought the homing of swallows under the front porch roof. They made a terrible mess on our front door step so we tried everything we could think of to deter them. I stood out on our front stoop and waved my arms trying to turn the swallows away. We attempted to scrape off the mud nest as it was in progress and they would rebuild it over night. It took a ladder and  bucket of soapy water and a brush to clean it off our white trim. Every time. That got old real fast. Finally one year I bought a caulking tube of bird repellent and it worked.

We deterred the swallows from nesting on our front porch. But the Chinese believe a nest on your house represents life, growth, family stability, beauty and good luck, according to the Web. Nests symbolize good luck for everyone who lives in the house with a nest. Maybe I should have allowed the birds to nest. I hate to admit it but we also deterred a robin from building a next under our deck this year. We aren't very friendly folk.

Last year's robin's nest.

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young -- a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you," (Psalm 84:3-4 NIV).

God cares about even the birds. Perhaps He guided our swallows to a new home where they were welcome.

May we dwell in God's house, ever praising Him!