By: Deborah Lovett
Here’s how I am finding God in a bird.
My dear friend suggested I get a bird. She commented on how peaceful and calming they were. Thoughts of a partridge and a pear tree started rolling around in my head. I thought how cool: finding God in a bird at Christmas time! So I asked for a bird this past Christmas. However, my family talked me out of it, reminding me of our animal house; two horses, two cats, and our 135 lb. golden retriever! Instead I received a bird book for Christmas; not hardly the same, but hey, it was a nice thought.
God stepped in though, as He knows the desires of our hearts. He sent me a cardinal. Yes, my very own red bird! And seeing I am from Ohio, and that the Cardinal is our state bird, I could only smile at His attention to details. Bird, cardinal, red, Christmas…oh my!
It came and perched himself on my kitchen screen daily, spreading his tail feathers for all to see. The whole thing was pretty impressive.
After watching him for a while, I noticed he had a daily custom. First, he perched on the kitchen screen, then he would fly to the kitchen door and bang his head up against it a few times as if trying to get in for dinner. (Don’t let this fool you–it’s was probably take out or microwaved!) Then he flew off. At first I thought, “Wow, God sent me a beautiful, peaceful bird.” After a while, I realized He sent me a bird with mental problems.
Since I never beckoned my redbird with a feeder or food, I did a little research and found out they love sunflower seeds. So I started spreading some seeds out, hoping to spare it some aggravation. Sorry to say, it continued its practice of perching, banging and only then, stopping to get a bite to eat. Honestly, it was a bit frustrating.
Then to my surprise, little redbird found himself a girlfriend. That’s right, I am guessing God sent me an early Valentines gift? So I named them, Lucy and Desi, and am proud of my lovebirds from heaven. But Lucy has some explaining to do, because she bangs her head up against the door window right along with Desi!
So what insights can we glean from this whole experience? First off, God wants to give us the desires of our hearts, one-way or another. It is not always the way we think, for His thoughts are so much higher and deeper than ours. Secondly, Lucy is following a birdbrain! Monkey see, monkey do, only in this case, bird see, bird do. We tend to follow others too easily and we need to be observant of who we are following. We cannot call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ if we are following someone else. Thirdly, we too can bang our heads up against the wall, or in the case of the birds, the door, looking for food. The only difference is that we are looking for answers, love, protection, comfort, satisfaction or even some kindness, through status, power, addictions, money, attention, our children, our husbands, or even our ministries. Our food is so very accessible as well. The Word of God! We are blessed to have it so readily available.
Who are you following today? Are you banging your head against the wall, looking for answers? Is there confusion all around you? Do you feel as if you are on the outside of God’s family looking in? Have you neglected reading and soaking in God’s Word?
Perhaps we all need to be finding God in a bird, or maybe a pair of red cardinals to remind us to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through God’s Word this coming year.
It is well with my soul, (and my birds!) May I suggest a One Year Bible for Christmas this year?
While we recommend that you read the Bible next year, why not start by reviewing the Bible in a minute?
Also, enjoy the cardinal starring in Jingle Birds, this Youtube video:
