The Birds Are Back… and So Is the Battle

The birds are back! Every year around this time, a battle begins between me and a determined pair of birds that are convinced the perfect place to build their nest is on my front porch—right above the light by the front door.

Now, let me explain why this is not ideal real estate. These particular birds are very messy decorators. They throw moss, twigs, and who-knows-what-all everywhere. And since our front door is a place where we (and guests) come and go about a zillion times a day, it’s just not the best location for a nursery. But the birds? They do not give up easily.

This week, I spotted the first sign that they were about to start again. I know from experience they work fast, so I tried to get ahead of them.

Last year, when they started building, I wedged an empty water bottle into the spot to discourage them. Within 30 minutes, they had knocked it down. So I climbed up, put it back, and secured it a little better. An hour later? Back on the ground. And their nest was already well under construction.

After climbing the ladder about four times in just a couple of hours to remove their partially built masterpiece, I decided to try something new—a full water bottle. Heavier. Surely they wouldn’t be strong enough to move that.

Success! They finally gave up and moved off to a tree somewhere in the yard to build their little home.

Watching those determined little birds made me think about something. Sometimes we get an idea in our heads about where our “nest” should be—what our plans should look like, how things should work out, or the path we think we’re supposed to take. And we work hard to make it happen.

But sometimes God gently (or not so gently) blocks the spot we had picked out. Not because He’s being difficult, but because He sees what we can’t. He knows the better place. The safer place. The place that will actually work.

The birds probably thought my porch light was the perfect real estate. But a busy front door with people constantly coming and going really wasn’t the best place for their little family after all.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop fighting the water bottle in our lives and trust that God may be redirecting us somewhere better.

After all, He’s a lot better at picking the right tree than we are. 🌿

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

March 11, 2026 Morning Brew

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