Even the sparrow has found a home,    and the

Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God. 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.

-Psalm 84:3-4

All its wealthy heirs long gone, the vacant chateau welcomed passers-through. Despite caretakers’ attempts to shoo away unwanted residents, a persistent bird made its home in the exterior sculptures. No visitor barked it away. The winged heiress knew she belonged. She nested in the castle’s artwork, committed to raising her young in the presence of beauty and majesty.
The rest of us left at the caretaker’s dismissal. We knew ourselves as visitors, tourists on our way through a home where we could never belong.
I wonder how many of us serve in the Kingdom of God as visitors, passing through to see its grandeur but never claim the inheritance as our own. Some deem themselves caretakers, shooing all away as unworthy to reside in the home of God. Let’s endeavor to become more like the tenacious bird, raising our loved ones to dwell in the Lord’s beauty and majesty as heirs. No one will dismiss those who know they belong to His Kingdom.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17).