By Bobby Dale Welch/Staff Correspondent
There is a Bugs Bunny cartoon with Bugs and Daffy going back and forth arguing duck season and rabbit season in front of Elmer Fudd. Of course, Bugs tricks Daffy and Elmer blasts his beak around in circles.
As I’ve been writing stories and recounting different experiences of my life, I‘ve realized life truly is a series of seasons. In hunting, there is dove season at present. Deer season is starting to get real too. I’ve started getting pictures from friends of bucks on their trail cameras. Anticipation is building. I hope you are getting your work done and getting those pictures to energize your passion.
I’ve been lucky enough to witness a mother bird with babies in a nest several times. Just last week, I found a nest with several birds.
The amount of lessons and inspiration to be learned from seeing them is enough to keep you thinking for many hours in a tree stand or while driving.
We experienced a new season at our house a few weeks ago when our oldest son left our nest.
The emotions were overwhelming and as I followed him and his mother to Tuscaloosa to move him to the University of Alabama. I spent the time thinking of why I was feeling that way. I can’t answer for a mother bird, but for me, there is excitement because our son has worked so hard to accomplish something. I felt anticipation to see what God will prepare him for. I felt curiosity to see what purpose he and God find for his life.
With all of these positive emotions came a big dose of fear – a fear of what lies ahead for him and fear of him no longer being in the safe confines of our nest.
I‘ve gained great respect for the mother bird. She takes care of her babies, but when she and God know the timing is right, she removes them from the nest. The mother bird’s complete trust in God and His creation, combined with her confidence in her babies as she watches them fly for the first time, is truly inspiring.
Bobby Dale Welch was born and raised in East Gadsden and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1988. He is the founder of and partner in BD Welch Construction and currently lives in Ashville with his wife Tracie and sons Daniel and Dawson. He may be contacted at bobbyd@bdwelch.com.