. . . under his wings you will find refuge . . .—Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

A pond at the edge of a nearby town is often a good place to spot swans. Swans are so elegant, so beautiful, and so full of life lessons. How much like baby swans, cygnets, we humans are! 

Away from their mom or dad, cygnets are virtually defenseless. If a baby is separated from its parents in the early weeks, its ability to procure food diminishes, too, because the parents lead their offspring to food sources. 

Cygnets can’t afford to get too cold or too hot. They often shelter from direct sunlight beneath their mother’s wings. Or they “burrow” underneath her feathers or stand in her umbrella-like shade, since Mom can sleep standing up. If the water in which the cygnets swim is too cool, they can climb onto the adult swan’s back. 

Interestingly, the parent doesn’t actively assist in the baby’s climbing aboard. Instead, the parent stops swimming and ensures its tail is lowered so it’s flat to the water. The cygnet then climbs up between the wings to a position behind the adult’s neck. 

From there, a cygnet can watch what’s going on around it. When tired, it can snuggle in the warm space between the parent’s wings and sleep. When I read Psalm 91, I’m moved by the comparison.