The first bird flew away over a decade ago.

Watching him soar high into the sky,

my heart whispered,

You always have a home here.

This nest is yours forever.

—————————————-

Not long after, the second bird began to flap his wings.

Flying high and free,

the whole world became his home.

But still, a mommy bird wants her little one to remember,

You always have a home here.

This nest is yours forever.

—————————————

The third bird, having watched his brothers take flight,

must have liked what he saw.

Because the day arrived when he,

too,

began his journey into the clouds –

and across the ocean.

————————————-

Three little birds gone,

my heart longed for each of them to never forget,

You always have a home here.

This nest is yours forever.

———————————————-

Time passed by.

One lone bird remained.

Chirping loudly,

she kept us busy.

And refilled our nest with other little birds,

sleeping over and giggling their way through many nights.

Could she read my mind as I watched them play?

———————————

I think she could.

And like her brothers,

she knew it was true.

This nest was their safe place.

No matter what the world might hurl their way.

————————————

But what healthy bird never flaps its wings?

Refuses to take off?

Denies the right to soar high?

So inevitably, her day came too.

Wings flapping beautifully,

she carried herself up and away.

_______________________

And for the very first time,

our nest was truly empty.

But it was still here.

Faithfully waiting.

Ready to fill back up for holidays,

weddings, 

and all kinds of other special events.

———————–

If there’s one thing you should always be able to count on,

isn’t it your nest?

———————————

That’s what I thought anyway.

Until the day God unexpectedly said,

It’s your turn.

Spread your wings.

Go.

Fly.

Soar.

Nervously we looked around.

Could this be right?

Is He asking us to leave the very nest our little birds believed was here to stay?

And is He asking us to leave it too?

Every twig.

Every branch.

How do we do this?

How do we find the strength to flap our wings and fly away from every single thing we hold dear?

—————————-

Did Abraham feel the pull to stay?

Did Moses resist for more reasons than a fear of public speaking?

All through the Bible,

God pushed people out of their comfort zones when He was ready to use them in a different way.

And our nest is definitely our comfort zone.

So the day we felt the call,

we hesitantly walked to the edge.

Looked down.

And realized it was time.

He was pushing and our choice was clear.

Flap or fall.

So we said, “Yes,”

and as we did,

something happened.

God began to perform a miracle.

Not a tangible or immediate one

and not one that causes crowds to oooh and ahhhh,

but it was a a miracle none-the-less.

God somehow began to transform our nest.

Every twig became a memory.

Every branch a story.

The empty nest we call our home started changing from walls and windows to a home deep within our hearts.

————————————–

“Yes.  You’re going to fly,”

He lovingly said,

“But the nest is flying with you.”

—————————-

Suddenly, it wasn’t quite as scary.

This decision to journey into a new chapter became just a little easier when we realized we aren’t really leaving anything or anyone behind.

Because family isn’t held together by twigs and branches.

It’s held together by memories and stories and love.

So we called the kids.

And talked to friends.

And realized they already knew what we struggled to believe.

No matter where we settle.

The nest will be there too.

—————————–

Our address may change.

But our love remains the same,

gently whispering to family and friends,

You always have a home here.

This nest is yours forever.

============================

With conflicting emotions but a sense of God’s supernatural peace,

Tim and I want to share that after thirty wonderful years of service at Kentucky Christian University,

Tim is exchanging his role as Dean of the School of Business for the position of

Financial Analyst with Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

We believe God is calling us to rebuild our nest there.

And we invite you all to visit.

Please.

———————————————

I have much more to say about this heart-wrenching decision but for today I want to say this,

Thank you,

Grayson,

First Church of Christ,

and KCU,

for helping us raise our family and for walking so faithfully with us through every high and every low.

You are the twigs and branches of our nest forever.

Where (and who) would we be without you?