Birds

Read Matthew 6:25-34

          Spring weather varies so greatly. One day it was snowing, the next, temperatures hit almost 70! So when I came out of our bedroom to find windows open, I wasn’t surprised. But I was mildly disappointed I didn’t hear any birds.

          The sounds we hear from outside are pretty consistent – the dogs (everyone in our town, except us, has at least one dog), the creek, and the train that goes through several times each hour.

          But there are also the birds. Now, I’ve always liked birds but never studies them.  I have friends who go out birding whenever they get some free time. They know all sorts of calls and mating habits and other facts. I just appreciate seeing and hearing our feathered friends.

          Once when we were out west we saw one that looked just like the Baltimore orioles I was familiar with, but instead of orange, their wings were yellow. Turns out, there are other kinds of orioles.

          Then there was the chatter we heard outside our camper. It was loud and sounded like a conversation, just not one we could understand. When we looked out, we saw two beautiful black and white birds, which we found out were magpies. They appeared daily while we in that place.

          But my favorite is the whippoorwill that charms me outside my house. I’ve never seen him, but I hear him. And he makes such a funny noise – hardly sounds birdlike at all. He’s very distinct, though, and I look forward to hearing him.

          I sometimes wonder why God made so many types of birds. They aren’t really good for much. We don’t eat them, they don’t do anything that I can think of that helps mankind. They’re just so much fun to look at and listen to.

          Perhaps God made them for us the same way He made us for Himself. He doesn’t need us. We don’t do anything that He can’t do Himself. He is triune, so He doesn’t need us to talk to. He has managed to make and run the world in spite of, not because of, people. All we added was sin – and God certainly doesn’t need that. But He made us and loves us.

          He describes His love for us as if we were more important than birds. He says we humans are more valuable than birds and points out how the Father takes care of them.

          So while I rejoice when I hear the birds from my window just because I like their sounds, I say a quick prayer of gratitude. My heavenly Father made me for His enjoyment, even in my imperfect state, the same way I appreciate my feathered friends. Birds tell me of God’s love.