A Mockingbird and a Dove

I love birds and I consider them my friends. I take care of the ones that come to my home. I feed a mockingbird and a dove every day. I give them my best bread and I place two bowls of water by the honeydew drop bush for them. Birds know you take care of them, and they come back. They know the sound of my voice. I always go out to greet them. I say to my mockingbird, “Where’s my baby bird” and to my dove, I coo, for he responds to this. They often can be found sitting on the tall light pole that illuminates at night by the sun beating on it by day. I think of a high position for small birds and what a view they can see me sitting at my table by the window. Other times they can be found on my roof hours at a time. Last year I had a pair of doves coming and landing on my patio when the screen was out because of heavy winds. When you have doves near you it’s like having angels being sent from heaven. Doves symbolize the presence of the Lord. A dove landed on Jesus when John baptized him the Baptist in the Jordan River and Noah sent a dove out of the ark to look for dry land. Doves are so sweet. Once I was privileged to have rescued one in the grass, hobbling on one leg. I took him in to care for him so that no animal would get him, where he couldn’t fly. I placed him on my chest and fed it. They find comfort at the beat of the heart. I took care of him for two days and I put a blanket out for him, under my hibiscus bush, for comfort and warmth, as it was wintertime. I planned to take him to the Wildlife Sanctuary the following day. When I awakened I couldn’t find him. All I found was his feathers and a hole in the screen. Trying to protect him, he died in my garden where he is now with a crown of thorns gracing his grave. What do you have to be thankful for today? My birds that sing to me, they are my family here at my home. When I’m down the mockingbird will sit in my butterfly garden on the fire bush and not make a peep. He lets me get close; it always cheers me up. Once when I was not feeling well he put on a concert for me at the top of the oak tree all day long. I’ve never heard such a pretty whistle as the mockingbird does. It was forty-one degrees today but he was there waiting for his daily bread and he knew I would be there too.