The bird droppings have hit the widow about 200 times. Also, the birds bring fish, frogs, rats, mice, and crawdads to the tree and house to eat, and they are prone to upchucking. The roof has to be cleaned weekly, and the smelly upchuck on the walks and lawn fill several garbage cans weekly. But any damages to the birds can mean a severe fine and imprisonment. The Venerable Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People, tells us of the King Sigebehrt of Essex who was killed by his own kinsmen because as a new Christian he forgave his enemies in violation of the barbarian s code.
Time flies, indeed it does.
When I was 18, age 80 seemed very remote, and now I am 81. But I have, and, hopefully, a little wiser and more patient. And the Lord remains always gracious.