If you’ve been with me for the last year or so, you may recall two earlier posts that featured mama wren along with some challenges for how we could use the example of her sweet song to inform OUR attitudes. If you need a refresher, you can find the original set of lessons here, and the follow-up lessons a few months later here.
I’m afraid there’s been a dark turn of events in our mama wren world. Although, one caveat – the earlier posts were about the mama wren in MY back yard. Today’s story is about a Minnesota wren, so we have a new player in this series!
First the story, then the lessons.
My Minnesota friend, let’s call her Susie, has multiple wren houses scattered through the trees in her front and back yards. One wren has taken up residence in a front yard wren house on the far side of a large tree. Never mind how far from the residence this wren house is, mama is on a rampage the moment Susie steps out that front door.
And I’m not just talking about a bunch of squawking (although there is plenty of that!) Oh no, I’m talking about dive bombing and actually hitting Susie in the head multiple times! Good thing mama’s not a bald eagle! Hmmmm…maybe she THINKS she is!
So Susie can do no flower deadheading, take no leisurely strolls around the front yard, not even sit for a few quiet moments on the front porch bench. Oh no, mama wren is immediately on the opposite side of her tree house, verbally assaulting anyone who ventures into her “mama zone.”
Susie even sent her niece out into this zone to make sure it wasn’t just a “beef” with Susie! Nope, mama squawked at the niece as well. Good to know it’s nothing personal…
True confessions – I had no idea where this blog post might go when I sat down to write it. I just thought there was a good mama wren follow-up in here somewhere! So, let’s see what lessons we might glean from this new story in our series.
It seems these lessons are falling into two categories. #1 – YOU’RE the mama wren and #2 – You are friends with this mama wren.
The Mama Wren is YOU!
We talked in one of the earlier mama wren stories about how we can sometimes become temporarily squawky, and have a good reason for it – much like the mama wren from my backyard. I understood that she was squawking at me to keep me away from her house and her babies. But the important lessons is that we should quickly return to our sweet, melodic song, as mama did.
This Minnesota version has crossed the proverbial line. Her response to this perceived threat has sent her into violent overdrive! She is lashing out and attacking anyone who comes too close.
How do we occasionally fall into this same trap? Might we also lash out indiscriminately when someone threatens our well-being? Is our response completely out of balance with the perceived threat or offense?
I think this past year has affected many of us in multiple adverse ways. Our patience can run a tad short, especially if we feel our sense of peace is being threatened. And we might have developed a new level of grumpiness from all that we feel we’ve lost during that time. How do I know? I’ve fought all that myself!
It’s one thing to be a bit out of sorts in our own little world, but what about when that bleeds into our friends’ or even strangers’ worlds? What about when our squawking doesn’t allow others to deadhead their flowers or even sit on their front porches?!
We can cross that line when we impose our unhappiness or anger too far into our friends’ lives. Sure, have a time to vent occasionally, but be cautious with how often YOUR mood can bring down that of another.
You’re Mama Wren’s Friend
We may seldom truly know what is behind someone’s uber-squawkiness, but there’s a good chance that they are hurting from something. If you are a close friend, consider asking them if they’re having a tough time lately; see if they want to talk it through with you.
If you don’t know them well, have grace and assume the bad mood has some justification behind it. Be kind to them and show them the love of Christ. Who knows how much that can speak into their hurting lives?
Thanks for going on this latest bird journey. I think the simple lessons are to think through how our own moods and reactions to others may be harmful to them. And to have compassion for those who seem to be in a bad place.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:18
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