Macaws: Learning to Imitate Christ

# Long-Tailed Macaws

The blue and yellow long-tailed macaw is a long-lived species in the parrot family, with some living up to 35 years in their natural outdoor habitat, and some living up to 70 years under good conditions—when kept in captivity. Long-tailed macaws originated from the tropical rainforests of South America. These social birds typically fly in large flocks each morning to search for food: seeds, fruit, nuts, flowers, and other tropical foods. They prefer to nest in hollow tree trunks—and once they have chosen a mate, that nest will be theirs for life.

The tail feathers of long-tailed macaws resemble bright green palm fronds, sometimes tinged with red and yellow. The blue feathers on the upper half of a blue and yellow long-tailed macaw contrast beautifully with the striking yellow on the lower part of its body. Additionally, this species of macaw has a hint of greenish coloring on its head.

Long-tailed macaws communicate in many different ways. They use sounds, body language, and even their vibrant plumage to express themselves. They can convey emotions, needs, and even warnings through their vocalizations. Macaws produce a variety of different sounds. Some are loud, some are soft. Some are high-pitched, some are low. Each sound carries a different meaning. For example, loud, high-pitched calls usually indicate excitement or a desire for attention—they might mean "I'm hungry" or "I'm bored!" Soft, low sounds can indicate contentment and relaxation. It's like learning a new language! Understanding these sounds can help us care better for our feathered friends and build stronger bonds with them.

Notably, macaws can mimic human speech. They can learn to say words and phrases that they hear regularly. They only imitate the sounds they hear, but they do not understand human language. So when we hear a long-tailed macaw speak, it is not really speaking. It is simply imitating sounds.(1)

We thank God for creating long-tailed macaws with the wonderful ability to mimic and speak human language, something other creatures cannot do. The instinct to imitate what is good is a way that God desires us to live—by imitating the example of Jesus Christ: "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). We must meditate on God's Word and experience the works God does in our lives, so that we may imitate what God has done and fully follow His teachings. All that God does begins with love: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16), and "he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:5). We thank God for His eternal and boundless love, which has drawn us near to Him and granted us eternal life in His Kingdom when we meet Him on the day of His return! "Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children" (Ephesians 5:1).

With gratitude to God, we must live imitating Him, loving all people, and doing all things through love just as God loves us. God's Word in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 reminds us that whatever we do without love is meaningless—it helps neither others nor ourselves. The Apostle John taught us: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). Furthermore, when we live in His boundless love, we must know what is good to imitate, as God's Word teaches: "...do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. But anyone who does what is evil has not seen God" (3 John 1:11). We are not long-tailed macaws, merely imitating and speaking the same words without understanding or following God's teachings! We must consider all things carefully before we act, asking ourselves: "Am I doing this out of love for God and love for others? Does this glorify God's name and benefit our brothers and sisters?" We pray that God's Holy Spirit will enlighten and help us examine our hearts in all things, to imitate God, and to live and act out of love, just as God always loves us! May our lives become a fragrant aroma of the Gospel to all those around us, glorifying the Father's name always and everywhere! Amen!

Look upon Jesus Christ, Merciful, compassionate, Savior of all, All that He does brings glory, We must imitate our Lord!

Each day meditate on Scripture, Examine your heart, follow God's will, Revere God, love others, serve with joy, Spread the Gospel everywhere!

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