Father Love of an Eagle

​If you have not checked out the cam of the eagles Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear Valley, you must do so. This couple has been together since 2018. They are called a mated pair since they have nested at Big Bear each year. Only two chicks successful appeared in this time period and were named Simba and Spirit. They grew up and left Big Bear Valley. This year Jackie laid three eggs, all of which successfully hatched the first week of March. Now the light gray, fuzzy hatchlings are being cared for by their mom and dad.
 
As I have been watching the interaction between this mated pair, I have seen how they cooperate with one another in building their nest, incubating the eggs, and caring for their young. I read that their ability to work together indicates a strong bond between them. Now Jackie and Shadow have the challenge of protecting their babies while a heavy snowstorm covers the nest area.
 
The couple shares nest duties. When Jackie is covering the babies with her feathers, Shadow keeps vigil on a perch next to the nest. The view of the valley below is stunning with Big Bear Lake and its tree-lined hills visible through the branches where the nest sits. Looking at Shadow dutifully caring for the family shows me how well he carries out his responsibilities as a father as they are spoken of in the Bible.
 
While sitting on his perch, Shadow watchfully protects his family. Jesus prayed to His Father about his disciples: "...Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:11) Shadow is an excellent provider for his family. I love it when the cam captures him flying into the nest with a huge fish in his mouth that he slaps down next to Jackie. Matthew 7:11 asks, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?"
 
As the three little eaglets grow, they are beginning to develop their own personalities. It seems that one of the three is a rebel and wants to poke his head out from under the wings of Jackie or Shadow. That little one is gently disciplined and taught by his father with a push of the beak. The Bible says, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6) Hebrews 12:6 tells us that our Father "disciplines those He loves..." and we can see how wonderfully Shadow cares for his young ones.
 
We know that Shadow will never leave or forsake his children. He has loyalty and purpose built into his being. As the eaglets are raised, the parents will give them examples of how to thrive so that when they grow up, they too can parent their own young ones. Proverbs 20:7 tells us, "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."  
 
There we have it—a godly example of how to be a good father from our national bird, the eagle. Father God loves us unconditionally, and we see selfless love in the eagle parents. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1a)