The mother eagle teaches her little ones to fly

by making their nest so uncomfortable that they are forced to leave it

and commit themselves to the unknown world of air outside.

And just so does our God to us.

He stirs up our comfortable nests,

and pushes us over the edge of them,

and we are forced to use our wings to save ourselves from fatal falling.

Read your trials in this light,

and see if you cannot begin to get a glimpse of their meaning.

Your wings are being developed.

by Hannah Whithall Smith