My bird taught me everything I know
My Bird Taught me Everything I know about
being a Good Husband!
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the Church.” Ephesians 5:28-29
Some of the most important lessons I have learned about being a good husband I have learned from my cockatiel...Squawks. That’s right…a bird! Our cockatiel Squawks was a part of our family for over 10 years. His wife or mate (I don’t think they were ever legally married) was Cuddles. (Yes…its true Squawks was very noisy and Cuddles was very…cuddly…our kids named them accurately.) Here are just three of many lessons that I learned by observing Squawks all those years:
1) Stand by your bird. Squawks never let Cuddles out of his sight. If she got out of eyesight for even a few moments he would go nuts squawking little crazy. He stood by Cuddles in the good times and the bad times. As Cuddles got older she lost her ability to fly, but, she loved to go on what we called “bird explores” all around our kitchen usually on the floor. (I forgot to mention that we also have a very large cat named Scout.) One day I walked into the kitchen to find Cuddles, Squawks and Scout staring at one another on the kitchen floor. Scout was ready to pounce and have a quick bird snack…but Squawks was right there on the floor between Cuddles and the cat ready to defend his love with his life. Fortunately, I stepped in and grabbed the cat before Squawks had to make the ultimate sacrifice. But make no mistake, Squawks was ready to give his life to save Cuddles.
2) Give even if you don’t get anything back. Birds love to preen themselves, but it is very hard for them to reach the back of their neck. Cuddles loved to have her neck rubbed, so she would lower her head right in front of Squawks and he would groom her for hours. But, when Squawks put his neck down for Cuddles to groom him Cuddles would simply walk away and ignore him. Somehow it never seemed to bother Squawks that he got the short end of the neck grooming stick. But, he never stopped grooming Cuddles even though he got little back for his efforts.
3) Love everyday to the last day! Most of all our family observed that Squawks and Cuddles loved each other and cared for each other and expressed their love to each other in tangible physical ways every day of their lives. When Cuddles finally died, after a good long bird life, Squawks was crushed. As she lay on the bottom of their cage moments after her last breath, Squawks came down by her side and sang a mournful love song for 10 minutes that we had never heard him sing before. When we tried to get Cuddles out of the cage Squawks would peck at us and refused to leave her side. We called a vet and asked if this was normal behavior and how long we should leave Squawks there before we took Cuddles away. They said to leave him there for an hour and than just take Cuddles away and that Squawks would then leave. We tried, but Squawks would have none of it. He stayed right by her side mourning and grieving the loss of his love for two whole days. Finally, he gave up his death watch and we took Cuddles and buried her in our back yard.
Can you see why I say that Squawks taught me everything I know about being a good husband? Well maybe not everything…but a whole lot! Men, the best gift you can give to your children this father’s day is to love your wife…and maybe buy her a bird for a gift! Just do it!!!
Lord Jesus, help me today to love and cherish my wife everyday the way that Squawks loved Cuddles, and the way that you love and cherish me! Amen.