“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
Feeding birds leads to a story I’d like to share. I recently bought a loaf of organic wheat bread which had whole wheat kernels in it. I came to the conclusion that this bread was not compatible with my body, since I had stomach cramps every time I ate it. Not wanting to throw away a full loaf of organic bread, I decided to leave a few slices in my yard, in view of my kitchen window, to watch and see who would eat it.
I expected the squirrels to come first, but was surprised to see a flock of little sparrows coming back and forth, biting off pieces of the bread until they ate every last bit of it. I have never been into bird watching, but it was truly entertaining to watch the little flock enjoy the bread that I couldn’t enjoy, knowing it would not go to waste.
That same afternoon, my neighbor from across the street asked to borrow my ladder. He said that he just discovered a bird’s nest in his external dryer vent, and there were four newly hatched birds inside the nest. His plan was to transfer the entire nest to the tree in front of his house.
I lent him my ladder and he placed the nest in a nook between two branches of that tree. We all hoped the mother bird would return and find her chicks safe in their nest. Those baby birds were so tiny and looked so helpless, waiting for their mom to return.
I noticed that their beaks were outlined in yellow, and did an internet search to find out what kind of bird has yellow beaks. I learned that newborn robins have yellow beaks to help the mother find their mouths, while feeding them in the dark. It fascinated me to learn that God took such an interest in details like the color of baby birds’ beaks, to ensure they get fed.
The Lord really shows His goodness throughout all creation, but we can see it most in the season of Spring. It’s the cycle of nature for nesting and new birth, as mother birds bring food to their nests. Spring is also the season that God shows His colorful artistry in the various perennial flowers, which are blooming everywhere we look.
Jesus told us that His Father cares for all the birds, and gives them food. Every Spring, He fills the landscape with flowers of every color. Since God cares about the colors of flowers, and the color of a newborn robin’s beak, we can be pretty sure that He cares about every detail in our lives as well. His eye is on all creation in Springtime, but His people are of highest value and in His heart every day.
Lord, thank you for the Spring season, which highlights the beauty of all you have created, and how much you care for every detail of our lives. Amen
