persistence

I have a beautiful white hydrangea wreath that hangs on our front door. It is the first wreath I have ever owned that has been attractive to nesting birds. Last year, I thought it was the two carolina wrens who sleep on the top corner of my front porch who made their attempt at nesting on my wreath. Each day, I would reluctantly undo their efforts by removing straw from the wreath until they finally seemed to get the point--no nests here. My motivation for removing the nest was two-fold: One, I didn't want a bird flying into the house when I opened the door. Two, I didn't want to break any eggs as Anderson is quite experienced at inadvertently slamming the door.

This week, pieces of pine straw which were just placed in the natural areas of our yard are mysteriously ending up in my wreath again. I was sure it was the wrens doing, so again, I removed the straw, apologizing out loud to them as I did it, assuming they were nearby and could hear: "Sorry birds. You just can't build it here." However, yesterday, as I turned the knob to open my front door, a bluebird flew from the wreath and perched on a branch just a few feet from our front porch. I stood there, staring, wondering why a bluebird would build her home in my wreath. I thought bluebirds liked open spaces with few trees. Well, this bluebird likes my wreath. And no matter how many times I have removed the pine straw, within a few hours, the pine straw is back, placed in a circular shape with a small yet deep indention in the middle. It is a perfect nest. It is hidden by the leaves and blooms of the hydrangeas, safe from predators. (Well, Anderson may very well be an unintentional predator with his occasional door slamming.)

This afternoon, as I was sweeping the pine straw off the porch (she makes quite a mess with her nest building), I thought of how persistent this bird has been. Talk about tenacity!! She just isn't giving up. And I'm a tenacious gal, so I haven't given up on removing the nest. Until now. I have to admit--I admire this bird's persistence! It reminds me of someone...it reminds me of us!!

Bennett likes to wade deep in the pond. We tell him not to go any further, so he shakes his head to indicate his disagreement. We snatch him from the pond. He cries in defeat. And then, moments later, he is heading for the water again.

Anderson was probably two years old when he was trying to pedal his tricycle up my parents' driveway, but it had a slight incline, so it was far more difficult to pedal towards the house than away from it. He would ride his tricycle to the end of the driveway, turn around, try to pedal back, and would end up frustrated and in tears. His granddaddy would say, "Let me help you." But Anderson insisted that Granddaddy not help him, and he persisted to struggle to pedal, all the way declaring to his grandfather, "No. My do it! My do it!"

Paul is a persistent golfer. He shoots a 65, and he is on the course the next day, trying to do it again. He shoots an 80, and he is on the golf course the next day trying NOT to do that again.

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I can be hardheaded. You can witness my persistence on any given day, I'm sure. No need to even share my stories, is there?

I should add that it isn't just her persistence that compels me to allow this mama bird to nest in my wreath. I relate to her as a mother. I would go to extraordinary lengths to build our home in the place that was the safest shelter possible for our children. And that is really all this bluebird wants--a safe place to call home.