The birds are making their nest in our church. It is a messy business as they painstakingly (painfully for us) move up and down, one twig at a time, dropping bits and pieces all over the church. Nest-making/home-making is a lot of trouble. To turn a house, convent or monastery into a nest is no easy task.

The home-maker gives a lot of time to the task, preparing the way, waiting for the right moment, creating the environment for the young and eventually setting them free to fly off when the time is right.

It is not only the homeless who lack homes. There are many who long for a sense of belonging, who have been hurt by nests that have been destroyed or damaged. Many need to be included - to be brought back home.

In this month of May, we thank all persons whether mothers or not, who have taken trouble to make their homes places of life, of comfort, of laughter and growth.