Ben loves to feed the birds in our back yard.

Or, more accurately, he loves working alongside one grandparent or another. They pour seeds from a big bag into smaller jugs, saved from their original use as litter jugs for the cats Ben’s growing up with. The pouring involves an oversize funnel, a big scoop. And Ben’s help is, occasionally, helpful. But it is always active.

Grandparents carry the jug to the bird feeder hanging on the wrought-iron plant stand. Ben carries the funnel. Sometimes grandparents remember to steady the jug between their feet. Sometimes Ben spreads the seed from the jug directly to the ground for the squirrels.

When the bird feeder is on the ground, Ben steadies the funnel as the seed pours from the jug into the feeder. Sometimes he scoops the seed from the dispensing tray back into the opening at the top. (Which is why hands are always washed afterward.)

The bird feeder is hung on the plant stand, and the funnel and jug are joyously returned to the garage.

And the sparrows and jays and cardinals and mourning doves gather above. And the squirrels and chipmunks gather below.

It’s not, of course, a very productive process.

Jesus talks about God knowing about sparrows, about their life and death. And, Jesus says, if God knows about that, how much more valuable are you? Not in a “fix every problem” way. Not in a making every activity productive way. Not in a “needing us” way.

Perhaps more in a grandparent allowing a two-year-old grandson to believe they are helpful way. A cascading love way. And maybe simply spending time together is the point, at least from God’s perspective.