What The Crows Say...

Nature teaches gratitude.

Long before I knew about the symbolism of crows, I loved them.

Every year at Girl Scout summer camp, the first thing I heard in the morning was their calls.

I’d lay there in the bunkhouse, waiting for everyone else to wake up, and think about how lucky I was to be there. We got to hike, swim, and canoe away from the pressures of everything that a teenage girl faced.

Years later, Del and I drove around the States together. When we’d get out to stretch, crows would be waiting to walk with me.

I asked Del why, still not understanding the wonder of a crow, and he replied, “They like you.”

When we moved into our house, a crow family adopted us.

One day, they taught me a lesson.

Still not understanding crows, I took away the food they were eating.

In response, they pulled up our corn crop three times before I realized why and put their food back.

Now, I feed them on purpose.

When they call out or fly by, telling me they are hungry, I put out handfuls of peanuts for them.

Recently, they did two things that reminded me that they knew what we were doing and were grateful for it.

Our house provides a warm escape for mice in winter. We used to catch and release them, but that didn’t work. They always found their way back.

Now, we use a mouse trap. I hate it, but it’s one of those “must-do” things.

But the crows are happy because we put the mice out for them.

One day, after providing three mice, Del and I were returning from a walk when one of our crow friends flew right in front of us, ensuring we saw him. He landed on a pole beside us and stared.

We looked closely and could see that he had a mouse with him.

He had waited hours for us to show his gratitude for providing a mouse.

The day before Thanksgiving, we received another message of gratitude.

Del had put a mouse out, as usual, a week before.

But before he could remove the mouse from the trap, the crows took the trap along with the mouse.

I worried they would get hurt. How could they get the mouse out of the trap?

I also wanted the trap back, so I casually requested the universe to have the crows return the trap.

And they did. But not just anywhere.

They returned it to where they knew Del would find it because it was where he is working to build steps down our hill.

And the trap was without a mouse. And it was closed.

How they could have opened it safely seems impossible.

But that’s only when we believe we are the only “smart ones.”

Instead, nature knows how to live harmoniously and give and receive equally.

We are still learning.

But at least we are learning to be grateful. I am for you. Thank you for being who you are and for hanging out in life with me.

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