It’s hard to say goodbye to a beloved family home you’ve had for years. Our guest blogger, Milei Yardley of Southern California shares a story of how she coped with transitioning to a new home.
My heart broke a little…
I had a wonderful time with the Lord this morning. As I poured out my pain, fears and frustrations about the selling of my beautiful home, I asked for direction and gentle love to help me deal with this transition for Scott, my husband and my precious, anxious two girls. Lord, allow me to create a beautiful place for my family. I asked for forgiveness for my wayward, lazy heart in my relationship with Him. In turn, I felt His incredible love for me and confidence, again, in His promise of provision for my every new step.
Now it was time to get my day going. I stepped into the bathroom to get ready for the day. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted the beautiful hummingbird’s nest nestled on a branch two floors up in my big master bath windows. I check it automatically every morning and throughout the day. It has symbolized so many things in the deepest part of my heart. The mommy hummingbird caring so deeply and carefully to make the most perfect place to raise her little ones, sits patiently nurturing the eggs until they hatched. The significance of the two little eggs, so innocent and fragile, has never escaped me either. I, too, have wanted to provide a safe, perfect nest for my family; the woman who did all the necessary things so her family could soar and succeed. I have rejoiced as the beautiful green iridescent mother has done the right thing: sitting patiently for hours protecting the eggs, then search for food for the little ones once they were born. I’ve watched these jelly bean-size birdies become so big they could barely fit into the nest. I have even had the pleasure of watching them gain their confidence and walk out onto the limb where their nest rested. Once I even saw the mommy hummingbird lovingly fly at and knock off the limb one of the new reluctant flyers.
I pondered on the times I too had to do that to one of my own.
One season I saw that the precious little jelly bean-sized eggs had disappeared. It broke my heart and renewed my determination to pray for my little ones and my husband as they live in this difficult world that seeks to destroy their lives and the beauty in them.
But this morning, as I subconsciously checked the nest…I saw that it was disintegrating and being torn apart. I peered into the nest and felt a sudden deep anguish and desire to cry. It hit too close to home…my nest too is being torn apart. I thought this house was so perfect and provided by the Lord for me to care for my family and to provide beauty and rest for me. I feared what the symbol of this torn up nest was to mean to me. I stepped closer to stare into the nest, not wanting to look, daring to find some miracle. No baby birdie, just a mess of a nest crumbling away!
I could see my own reflection as my face crumbled and tears filled my eyes until a yard away, my eyes caught sight of a new perfect nest! My mommy hummingbird was sitting proudly and dutifully in the fullest nest, her feathers gleaming! Overwhelmed by the significance of the sight, I recognized that God is moving me, also, where I will set up and provide a refuge for my family and safe place for my girls to grow, as they take steps and fly away.
My God has time for me…time to locate a little, beautiful colorful bird to just beyond my sight so that I would have to look first and acknowledge the break up of the first nest. So that as my heart broke a little He could surprise me with His creation, His plan, His love for me! I praise Him! What a God!
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Milei who lives in Orange County, California with her husband, Scott, her two daughters, and three dogs, works in her husband’s business. She grew up on the mission field in Taiwan until age ten. At age 35 she and her husband and girls moved to Hong Kong for 4 years. They returned to Southern California and bought a custom built home that they enjoyed for many years. Six weeks ago they moved from their Newport Beach to a small rental in Costa Mesa, California. She is working hard to make her new rental a home that feels like home.
She currently helps in her husband’s business.
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