Miracle Beams,
I found this photo on my phone this afternoon. My daughter had made it. And it struck me at how perfect it was. I felt like I had nothing to write about.
And yet, a miracle happened today.
How could I forget?
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It was my husband who alerted us.
I was at the dining room table with my daughters, starting to go through workbooks for the day’s homeschooling. He ran towards the back door, calling our dog loudly, bringing her back inside.
I looked up.
What’s happening my love?
“A little bird just flew into the window and is laying on the ground. I’m not sure if it’s okay, I just didn’t want Angel to disturb it.”
Oh that’s sad. The poor little thing. We’ll just leave it and hope it comes good.
But then my eldest daughter asked in that silvery, gentle, cautious way of hers:
Mum? Is it okay if I can just go and look at the bird? I’d like to see a bird up close like that if I could.
She was so open to it, and I realised the homeschooling lesson for the day had come flying in, literally.
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We decided to move to the window closest to it, so we could observe it quietly without disturbing. And that’s where we sat for the next long while. Looking out the window together. Watching this beautiful, tiny little bird. The girls get their sketchbooks, and carefully draw it laying on the patio. Grey and yellow feathers, sloped beak, a white flash around its eye. Whispering wishes for it to be okay.
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We don’t know if he will of course. Not sure if he will recover. I ponder in my head about how if this science observation ends in death, we’ll talk about the circle of life. We just wait, and breathe with him, and hope.
Eventually, after enough staring into space, quietly willing for his shit to be together, he scatters his wings and pirouettes before blacking out again in another tiny, furled coma.
More time, more waiting, more breathing, more whispered wishes, more drawing. Mermaid Daughter #1 draws the pirouette and flash of yellow grey wings.
Another seizure of energy, and he props himself up against the chair leg before promptly blacking out again.
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Mermaid Daughter #2 starts writing a letter in her journal to it.
Dear Birdy,
You flew into our window and it has hurt you very much. You are lying on the ground and we can see your eyes. You will get better and fly away, and I want you to stay, but I also have a drawing of you, so I will remember you forever.
Get better soon.
Love,
Mermaid Daughter #2
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Finally, heart in our mouths as we watch and witness, consciousness returns into his body. His spirit come home. He stations himself upright, fluffs feathers, watches the world once more.
I read the girls books by the window. I hope he enjoys hearing comics about Fly Guy as much as they do.
The afternoon sunlight falls through the silk tree leaves.
And then, in a span of wings, he is gone.
Back into the world of flight, and light, and living.
We are left, blessed. Blessed for the company, for the time spent with a tiny, unconscious bird. Blessed for his renewal and revival.
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I tell my husband:
It was just the perfect visual allegory for me. That’s exactly how I feel when I run into the glass wall of life. I fall down, and lay and wait, staring into space, waiting to collect my shit again. But eventually, life and hope and movement returns again.
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It’s evening now.
I’ve read the girls their evening fairy story, tucked them into bed.
Mermaid Daughter #2 wanders out while I make my evening cup of tea.
Mum, I just closed my eyes, and there was our little bird, still in my mind. Isn’t that good?
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I feel like our bird was the perfect embodiment of an Easter miracle.
It might be 18 days late, but miracles take time.
It was perfect.
Birdy rose.
So will I.
So will you.
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Big love,
