It was 6:22 am wake up call. "Why so early?" I thought? "Teach them to fly," he said. Within minutes, I was sitting on the sofa with lukewarm coffee. As I glanced out of the window, a male Cardinal caught my attention. Perched on a limb, his head held high like an exuberant aerobics instructor, he lifted his shoulders and extended his wings. Quickly, he brought them back to his side and turned his head from side to side, as if to say, "Did you see that?" He repeated his wing extensions.

"Did you see that?" This could only be another sighting of God at work in my life--a gentle lesson and a kind correction, too. We can all benefit from learning good behavior early in our life, early in a relationship, or early in the day. If you are a parent, an employer or a teacher, you may struggle with the actions of your child, your employee or your student. One day on track, the next day seemingly going nowhere.
"Teach them to fly," he repeated. "Don't get angry when they can't. Lift your shoulders, extend your wings, bring them back to your side, look from side to side to be certain that they saw you, then repeat. It's an exercise worth doing. They're watching you. What are you teaching them?"

Is it always anger that they see?
Or is it encouragement they receive?
Do they spread their wings and try to fly?
Or back away, afraid to try?
Does disappointment show on your face?
Or do you lift your head displaying grace?
"I trust you to teach them as I taught you.
They're watching you to know what to do."
"Teach them to fly," he said.
The Cardinal flew to the ground encouraging the young cardinal to extend his wings. The lesson was taught at 6:22 am.