Chapter 39 – Hopper Flights

God of Freedom

Psalm 118:5

“I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.”

John 8:36

“If the Son therefore shall Make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Whistles and tweets, cockatiel tunes and brand new calls were coming from our little white cockatiel Cotton. He was a happy fellow enjoying his days trying and learning many new things including the freedom to go about at will and watching his outside friends from his home cage. We positioned it right where he could see the whole of the yard, the sky, all the feeders including the one for the hummingbirds - and could soak up plenty of good sunshine. Of course his inside buddies enjoyed the companionship and views too!

Hearing the kitties chirping at the foraging birds and squirrels added a special sound to Cotton’s melodic arias. Kaiyah stayed pretty much in stealth mode but she could say a lot with those eyes of hers and with her soft husky fur-coated body language. At times Kaiyah looked totally thrilled to gaze outside while listening to all the songs and sounds. Or she’d prefer to lazily sprawl on the floor in full sun with her eyes closed with the softest hint of a smile on her muzzle. And on other occasions after a little bonding time in the sun she would politely excuse herself, silently find her way back to her room to snuggle down in her bed where it was a tad darker (and a bit quieter).

Sometimes I would see Pumpkin looking for her in the “sun” room as he usually liked to be as close to her as he could without being in her way. Their bond was special since the day they first met, and it only deepened through the years. When he realized she had left or didn’t join them that day he would toddle down the hall finding his way to her space with his fluff of a tail high and happy just to check on her or to snuggle some place nearby. How often I would see the two of them making their way to the kitchen looking for treats or a joint visit at the watering bowl. When the weather was nice Pumpkin and Kaiyah made yard rounds together and sometimes Gideon would join them. Thankfully, they all got along so well and they all seem to enjoy, with sweet fur faces of wonder, their feathered friend Cotton.

When Cotton was first getting his wings strong to fly, not until we made sure to make the areas bird safe, out Cotton would come little by little, working in one area at a time and where he had plenty of places to land easily and safely as possible. Building up his courage, strength and flight control came over time and with patient encouragement. Of our furbabies, Gideon was often the first to notice and he had the biggest round eyes with his head moving in sync with Cotton’s flight pattern and would zing in place when Cotton landed. If I was in the area Gideon would look at me right after Cotton landed with the look of, “did you see that?!” Gideon always had special interest in flying feathers and I will say he never once lifted a paw at Cotton and neither did Pumpkin.

On one of Cotton’s flight training days he was gliding so beautifully and was going about landing here and there. Pumpkin was sound asleep on the back of our couch when in a flash of white lightning - and softer than a whisper - Cotton landed very gently on Pumpkin! Cotton looked ecstatic and I think he liked the feel of Pumpkin’s warm long ultra soft fur under his feet. Cotton stood there, handsome as you please, and Pumpkin only lifted his head and looked at Cotton standing right on him. Pumpkin didn’t flinch or anything - he just remained in his round cozy ball and let out a soft sigh putting his head back down with his eyes ever so slightly open. Pumpkin remained that way until Cotton decided to try his wings again. The minute Cotton lifted off Pumpkin lifted his baby faced head watching Cotton fly and then land on his bird PlayStation. The two of them looked amazed and happy. Pumpkin went back to sleep and Cotton ate one of his foraging treats and then rested a bit. I surely would like to know what the two of them thought of that experience!

Kaiyah often marveled at Cotton’s flight as well. Once he got his strength and agility working smoothly Cotton proved to be one very graceful bird to watch fly. Powerful for his size but elegant and stable in flight and his maneuvers. His soaring appeared effortless. His design and wingspan would light up from cascading sunlight through the windows; absolutely beautiful. If Kaiyah was laying down where he was flying she too would lift her head and watch with big round eyes. When Cotton would be close in his diving or circling, and she was awake to see it, she looked totally amazed, wide-eyed, and excited but always remained gentle and non-threatening. There was an unusual incident one time when Cotton got tired and landed on her back as she was standing near me. She looked like, “whoa, wow what??!!” and turned her head toward him with her muzzle closed and those eyes were dancing with sparkles. I had Cotton step-up onto my hand and I took him to his ladder and foraging PlayStation for him to catch his breath. Kaiyah was pretty friskity after that encounter. It is the one time that happened, and she was overwhelmed, bless her heart.

It wasn’t long before Cotton was gaining altitude and that he found himself ever so delighted to land on our heads including Peter’s family when they would visit. I never thought I would have a bird happily riding around on my head but boy I am personally tickled when it happens. We make sure to keep ceiling fans off, stove items covered or off, toilet seats closed, and we absolutely keep doors and windows closed with no going in and out with Cotton out and about. Those are very important rules to keep for birds or any critter you don’t want to accidentally go outside or be hurt moving around.

Something I noticed with Cotton’s daily dose of sunshine was that his scapular or shoulder wing feathers were silvering to a lovely soft cool gray color. That was perfect for our number one flyer regularly logging air mileage and gaining more experience with every flight. He was becoming Captain before our eyes. Peter would remind me now and again that Cotton was a professional bird. I couldn’t help but laugh and find comfort in my husband’s wise humor. It was marvelous watching him. Getting to see our furbabies’ reactions are cherished moments for sure, and exhilarating for all of us, especially with Cotton’s budding confidence, the awareness of his new much larger surroundings and liberty.

As the months went by we found Cotton fly-guying his way to his first stop on one of our heads, and then when the moment of departure arrived he would let out the cutest shrill - hopping along to the next landing sight, and on he would go until he found himself contentedly going back to Home Cage. Kaiyah and the furbabies were duly entertained and amazed. What conversations they must have had when they first started sharing their daily adventures together...

I was much blessed watching them all growing in companionship and displaying their personalities. I saw the freedom and confidence building in Cotton as he was coming into his own, and his ever increasing navigation of our home and its high ceilings. It was totally joyful for me to behold. I couldn’t help but ponder the Lord and His Gift of Freedom and Liberty - Jesus. Time and time again when dealing with the weights and heaviness from difficulties, struggles, and hurts in this life, I have needed Him to help me to find courage, confidence, strength and liberty to fly again even as my songs "Broke Free" and "Cageless" testify. He Is my courage, confidence, strength and liberty: all praise to God Most High. Only Jesus makes us truly free.

I considered how much joy it must give my Heavenly Father when we let Him fill and lead our lives in Jesus, His Word and Truth, setting us free from lies, sin, the powers of darkness and their evil devices, and enlarging our lives in Him. Even though there are growing evils and apostasies, how much infinitely greater is the Power and Love of God for those that fear Him, letting God be their recompense, dealing with those that hate the lovers of God, and put their trust in Him, His Mercy and His Holy Word.

The Passage from Psalm 118 verses 4 through 8 resonate and fortify my soul walking out life in this broken sinful world: “Let them now that fear the LORD say, that His mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

How precious for Peter and I to have such lessons to reflect on from His humble servants Kaiyah, Gideon, Pumpkin and Captain Cotton and may we never ever forget them…. And the joy those hopper flights brought all of us.

…Until we meet again…