A reflection on sparrows

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. Some...