Finally Lina could be out playing with her sister and other children. She also seems to have had a good period with her lungs for a while.

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It wasn't long before she climbed into the big, old ash, which was on the site. Up in it, her elder siblings had built a seat with floor and benches. Over the years, Lina often disappeared up there to sit and write poetry. She thought it was a perfect place. In the evenings, she could feast her eyes upon the sunset and eventually see the stars, which lit on the dark canopy of heaven. During many hot summer days, the tree gave her shade. Among the branches and foliage, she could observe the birds that built and lived there.

 

When she saw the bird parents' care of their little ones in the nest, the hymn "Children of the heavenly father" was born. It came to be one of Sweden's most loved hymns. The melody is a Swedish variant of German folk melody. I have found two translations in English and you get both:

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Children of the Heavenly Father

Children of the Heavenly Father

safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird or star in heaven

such a refuge ne’er was given.

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God his own doth tend and nourish;

in his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them;

in his mighty arms he bears them.

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Neither life nor death shall ever

from the Lord his children sever;

Unto them his grace he showeth,

and their sorrows all  he knoweth.

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Though he giveth or he taketh,

God his children ne’er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely

to preserve them pure and holy.

(Tr Ernst W. Olson, 1925)

Hymnary.org

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Secure

More secure is no one ever, 
Than the loved ones of the Savior; 
Not yon star on high abiding, 
Nor the bird in home nest hiding. 

God His own doth tend and nourish, 
In His holy courts they flourish; 
Like a Father kind He spares them, 
In His loving arms He bears them. 

Neither life nor death can ever, 
From the Lord His children sever; 
For His love and deep compassion, 
Comfort them in tribulation. 

Little flock, to joy then yield thee! 
Jacob's God will ever shield thee; 
Rest secure with this Defender, 
At His will all foes surrender. 

What He takes or what He gives us, 
Shows the Father's love so precious; 
We may trust his purpose wholly, 
'Tis His children's welfare solely.

Tr. Composite
Hymnary.org

The Blackbird mother in the picture has just delivered something useful to the hungry nestlings and is ready to fly away and get more food. Dad comes with an earthworm in his beak to give the kids, who constantly need food to grow and grow.

 

The Spiritual Message in the Subject: When we humans have received Jesus as our Savior and become His children, then we need the spiritual food our Heavenly Father wants to give us. Just as the nestlings are eager to get food, so should we be eager to receive spiritual nourishment by reading the Bible, taking part in teaching about the Christian faith, and by having an intimate relationship with God in prayer. We need to make sure that we receive the spiritual food every day so we don't become malnourished or, even worse, lose our faith.
 

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