Winter Morning Doves
A flock of a dozen or so ground-feeding Mourning Doves show up faithfully each morning at the winter feeders here. Actually, I think the birds are here year round, but are spread out when seeds are abundant. When the snow comes, the feeder brings them together, making it easier to count them. I've just read that a Mourning Dove's life expectancy is no more than two years, so mine might well be the descendents of the first flock I noticed years ago.
Mourning Doves are prolific birds, raising several families each year. They don't wear fancy feathers or bright colors, but shades of brown and tan. There are over 350 million Mourning Doves across the continental states, which is considered a healthy population, considering about 75 million are shot by hunters every year. The edible part of a Mourning Dove is about the size of a man's thumb. If I stopped to expound on this, I'd expect to find myself fighting with someone in short order. Sufficient to say, I'm glad they make their safe home here.
Watching the Mourning Dove flock for some time after this week's big storm, here's an Advent Blessing Prayer for you and your family.
May you find joy in the people you call each other;
open to the each others yet to be known.
May you remain enduring and grateful for the abundance.
May you be protected from what hunts you down.
May your heart learn what it means to fly.
May you be grounded in patient compassion.
May seeds of humility sprout and flourish in you.
May you have what you need in the day to day,
and out of that, be eager to share.
May your manner inspire thoughts of peace.
May you survive the gloom and darkness.
May you be gladdened to know,
as with the sparrow,
God keeps a loving eye on you.
May your heart learn what it means to fly.
May you be grounded in patient compassion.
May seeds of humility sprout and flourish in you.
May you have what you need in the day to day,
and out of that, be eager to share.
May your manner inspire thoughts of peace.
May you survive the gloom and darkness.
May you be gladdened to know,
as with the sparrow,
God keeps a loving eye on you.
