Doves

Doves are a prevalent symbol of Christians in the Bible. At Matthew 10:16, Jesus told his followers to be cautious (wise) as serpents, yet gentle (harmless) as doves. What is so special about doves? Why were they used rather than some other bird?
A number of years ago, my family had a lot of bird pens and raised chickens, pigeons, roosters, doves and assorted other creatures.
Most birds, even those not meat eating, are predators even against their own kind. That is, they will kill the eggs and destroy the nests of other birds in order to make themselves and their offspring superior. Many humans and nations are like this also destroying others to keep themselves from being destroyed or even to keep themselves from merely losing some monetary objectives.
But doves are not like that. Rather than destroy the nests of other doves, all in the pen will take turns sitting on the nests... even the single males. Pigeons and chickens will not do this.
Doves mate for life in male/female pairs and others will not interfere in these relationships trying to steal a dove's mate. Other birds are likely mated all to one dominant male (like chickens). (A few bird species such as eagles, parakeets, pigeons will mate for life, but are still aggressive, fighting type birds).
Doves care for each other; cuddle together for warmth; help care for eggs/nests/infants; and will only reject a member once the illness or injury is unrecoverable. Then they will isolate the member from the rest. Most bird species will peck an injured one to death at the first sign of illness or injury. They will also peck to death the babies of other birds including their own kinds.
Doves, therefore, naturally mimic much of the conduct expected of Christians as shown in the following Bible verses:
1 Thessalonians 5:14; Hebrews 11:34; Romans 15:1; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 13:4; Hebrews 10;23-25; Romans 1:12; Hebrews 13:4; 2 Timothy 2:24; 2 Corinthians 10:3
Even though we live in the world, a world full of Satan's birds who would pick us and our seeds to death, we do not wage war as the world does as Paul stated above.
Let us act like doves and not other birds. Matthew 13:3, 4, 18, 19. Do not allow the birds to pluck away that which you have received in learning Bible truth. Your fellow doves are always around to help if you are willing to make use of them.