There was once a great fire storm that occurred in Yellow Stone National forest. The forest ranger was tracking through this burnt out field, and as he was walking along, he saw next to a tree this bird that was literally petrified. The fire had passed through and that little bird froze and all that was left was the burnt out husk of this bird. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked the bird over with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried out from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of the impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandoned her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast because she was willing to die so those under the cover of her wings would live.¹

Michael Voytek