Under His Wing: A Finch Story unfolded just this spring. It is a very sweet story that reminds me, in the gentlest of ways, that nothing escapes God’s care. Right outside our front door, a story unfolded. A finch nest, a sudden threat, and a rescue that still warms my heart. Here’s what happened.
A Nest on the Porch
In a small evergreen tree planted in a container on our front porch, we watched as a finch steadily built her nest. We watched in delight as she laid five tiny, speckled eggs. She tended them faithfully day after day.
Before long, the eggs began to hatch, and soon we could see tiny, fuzzy heads peeking above the edge of the nest. At least four baby birds huddled together, stretching and chirping, while their mother fluttered in and out, bringing nourishment and care.
We all enjoyed watching as family and friends took a peek each time they passed by. It was a front-row seat to new life unfolding.
An Unexpected Threat
Late one evening, I glanced at our outdoor camera alerts and caught sight of something alarming.
A stray cat appeared on the porch.
It was crouched at the base of the planter staring up at the nest. We quickly scared it off, but went to bed uneasy, worried it would return.
And it did.
Morning Worry and Discovery
Early the next morning, we stepped outside to find the planter tipped over, the tree uprooted and lying on the pavement. Our hearts sank.
We thought for sure the babies would be gone. We were astonished to see the nest and the chicks, protected by the tree that had fallen on them.
There, cold and still on the concrete, were the baby finches, shivering, helpless, and out of their nest.
Their mother returned soon after, flitting anxiously around the empty planter, clearly searching for her little ones.
A Gentle Rescue
My husband gently lifted the tree and secured it back into the planter. He retrieved the nest, tucked it back into the branches, and one by one, placed the baby birds inside. The situation was fragile, and we didn’t know if they would survive.
Small Measures, Big Prayers
To protect them from the cat’s return, we sprinkled cayenne pepper around the base of the planter, one of the only safe deterrents we could find.
And then… we waited. We watched. We hoped. I said a little prayer for them.
They Flourished
Over the next few days, the babies began to thrive again. We saw them stretch their wings, grow fuller feathers, and chirp with surprising strength. Their mother came and went faithfully, never giving up.
And then one morning, just like that—they were gone. They had flown.
Under His Wing: A Finch Story
His Eye Is on the Finch
Each day I saw how vulnerable the finches were. The old hymn, “His eye is on the sparrow… replayed in my mind and brought hope for these little chicks.
From each night-time threat to the moment of flight, I was reminded that God sees, even in the small, even in the fragile, even on a quiet porch.
Under His Wing
Psalm 91:4 says, “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” That’s exactly what this moment felt like.
The nest was restored, the tiny lives protected, and we were given a glimpse of God’s attentive love.
Whether you’re in a season of rescue, rebuilding, or waiting, I hope you are reminded that you are never out of His sight. Not even for a moment.
A little bit About the Hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”
Written in 1905 by Civilla D. Martin, this cherished hymn was inspired by the words of a bedridden friend. When asked how she maintained her joy despite suffering, the woman replied, “If God’s eye is on the sparrow, then I know He watches me.”
These words touched Civilla deeply and became the seed for a hymn that has comforted countless hearts for over a century.
“I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
The hymn, inspired by Matthew 10:29–31 and Luke 12:6–7, are reminders that not one sparrow falls without God’s knowledge, and that we, too, are never forgotten. Our smallest sorrows and quietest hopes are fully known by God.
Under His Wing: A Finch Story
They Flourished
In a tree we planted, soft and small,
A finch made home where branches fall.
Small speckled eggs, then four soft lives,
Feathered hope where quiet thrives.
But one dark night, a shadow stirred.
A prowling cat, the silence blurred.
It crept below with watching eyes,
As moonlight poured from quiet skies.
We scared it off, but dawn brought dread,
The planter tipped, tree almost dead.
On the ground, shivering, and bare,
The hatchlings trembled, breathless there.
The mother came, her nest now gone,
She fluttered near, then cried, pressed on.
With care, we lifted branch and root,
Replanted hope with gentle truth.
The nest was patched and placed anew,
The little ones tucked in like dew.
We scattered pepper, drew a line,
And prayed they’d live, one more time.
And live they did, with fluff and wing,
They grew and stretched and learned to sing.
We watched them thrive from day to day,
Until one morning, they flew away.
~ldh
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