Sometimes, a small moment in nature can open our hearts to big questions about parenting, respect, and trust. This week’s story was born from a single moment in the sky – between a powerful hawk, a young fledgling, and the deep trust between them.

Where I used to live, seeing a hawk soaring through the sky was a fairly common sight, and yet, every single time I saw one – something inside me paused.

It’s a remarkable bird, with a powerful presence, soaring high above, sharp and focused, gliding through the sky like a small airplane.

One of the gifts I give myself after an intense run is staying at the top of the mountain for a few extra minutes, catching my breath and simply looking at the view and the sky.

One day, I stood there, and as I slowly made my way down the mountain, I lifted my head again. I noticed a large hawk gliding across the sky – and beside it, another bird, much smaller.

At first, something about it reminded me of a crow, but crows don’t fly that high or that close to a hawk.

I looked up carefully and kept watching. The small bird was flapping its wings constantly, trying for a moment to glide, while the large hawk circled nearby like a quiet guide, never touching – but always there.

After a few moments, I realized what I was seeing: a young fledgling taking its very first steps in the air, and a parent who never stopped being there for it – high above, close by, teaching, encouraging, pushing it to keep trying again and again.

I stood there on the mountainside, breathing steadily after my run, and realized I had just been given a glimpse into something deeply moving – the school where a young bird learns how to fly, by allowing its parent to teach it.

I asked myself, if a tiny fledgling can follow its parent with complete trust – why do so many children today struggle to let their parents guide them?

For me, the answer became very clear: it begins with honoring parents.

Honoring parents is not “a rule made for parents.” It is one of the most important schools a child will ever attend.

When a child practices honoring their parents, they are practicing compassion, generosity, listening, love, gratitude, and patience – the inner emotional muscles they will need in every meaningful relationship in life:

• With a future spouse
• With friends
• At work
• And one day, in their own parenting

The young hawk in this story follows its parent, allowing it to teach, guide, and encourage. And what happens in our homes?

In order for a child to truly want to follow their parents, parents need to earn that place.

Not through control, but through personal example:

1. The way we speak
2. The way we treat one another
3. Our presence and availability for our children

When we stand for honoring parents, we help our children build hearts that know how to love, appreciate, and truly see others.

Ask yourself: How much do I stand for honoring parents in my home? How much do I honor my own parents? And what can I do this week so my children will truly want to follow me?

Wishing you to be a compass for your children,
❤️ Hannah

This weekly message is based on the story “Who Flies Beside the Hawk?” from the book “Souvenirs – Short Stories with Life Lessons.”