Upward-Maternal Example

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 26, 1906

Upward—Maternal Example

AFTER service one Sabbath evening a lady who had recently visited the Yellowstone Park related an incident of an eagle which had built her nest upon the crags. While the little company of travelers was looking upon the interesting and unusual sight, this proud bird of the mountains, leaving her nestlings on the crag, arose on majestic pinions, upward and upward, higher and higher until she was lost in the blue fathoms of the sky. And while the tourists yet were gazing, she reappeared, a dark speck away on the farther line of vision, and grew larger until the movement of the wings was visible. Nearer and nearer came this creature of the storms and thunderbolts until she hovered over her nestlings on the rock. But instead of alighting she soared round and round her nest, “fluttered over her young,” then again turned her gaze upward and swept far into the blue depths of God. Here was the mother-bird teaching her young by example. She would show them how unfledged nestlings must use their wings. She was a pattern to her eaglets. Her flight was upward where her children in the nest might see the majesty of her ascent. There is a thought here for all mothers. The lady who related this incident said, “As I watched the eagle mounting upward, I could think only of the words, ‘They shall mount up on wings as eagles!’”—United Presbyterian.