I have never read a complimentary article on the cowbird. In short, they are plain — if not ugly — and downright destructive to other bird species. This destructiveness comes from their surprisingly prolific method of child rearing. The cowbird will lay its eggs in another bird’s nest and let the other bird do the rest. The unwary and good intentioned foster mother will rear the cowbird’s eggs and chicks, often to the destruction of her own! To complete the cycle, the cowbird chick grows, neglects its loving and caring upbringing, and chooses to follow the way of its own absent parents. The new adult cowbird lays and abandons its own eggs in another nest. It is just WRONG!
And yet, I can’t help but see it in our society today. Many people have adapted the cowbird method of raising children. As the parents spend time at work, leisure, and other important commitments, the kids are shuttled back and forth to be raised by the day care professional, the school teacher, the soccer coach, the 4-H leader, the friend’s mom, the grandparents, and even the volunteer at church. To complete the cycle, these children mature and abandon their children with whoever else will raise them.
I do not think this is a new trend, nor is it universal among human parents. And yet, I really believe that the best parents for every child are the two that God gave them. To neglect or minimalize this parent-child relationship is destructive.
“And you, fathers, … bring them up in the training and
admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4