Raising “Elephant” Birds

Posted on 03 July 2010 by Rhonda | 10 responses

If you’re a fan of Dr. Seuss books, you know where the term “elephant bird” comes from~you’ll find it in the story, “Horton Hatches The Egg,” one of my favorite Dr. Seuss stories.  When Mayzie decides she doesn’t have the energy/desire to care for her baby egg, she’s off, leaving the job to Horton the Elephant.  Horton goes through many trials to keep this baby safe because he’s a faithful caregiver, while Mama Mayzie is off fulfilling herself.  However, when baby bird hatches, he’s not like his mama, oh no~he is a flying replica of Horton!

The moral of the story is obvious~mamas, if you want your babies to grow up following in your footsteps, you have to invest the time and energy it takes. Whoever spends the most time with your little one will have the most influence,  for whoever disciples the child, in part controls the outcome of that child.  As moms we can choose to live for ourselves, but we shouldn’t be surprised when out children grow up in the shape of someone else, whether peer or teacher.  God commands parents to train their children~anything less has consequences.

One of the main joys of being a homemaker is the time it allows you to spend investing in the lives of your children.  It’s a joy too precious to relinquish.  How blessed the children who have a mama committed to providing a home environment where they can grow, explore, and learn.  Even baby birds need mamas, how much more children?

So how about gathering those children of yours around you and cracking open this Seuss classic~Dr. Seuss had a timely message that we still need to hear today~”Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”