Sweet Husband enjoys birds and, for years, has placed bird feeders in the trees in our back yard. He even feels sorry for the squirrels that steal the bird’s food and purchases corn for them.
I have never paid much attention to the birds until a couple of years ago when I started noticing cardinals frequenting Sweet Husband’s feeders. They were beautiful and I found myself enjoying watching them come to the bird feeders each morning.
This spring I saw a fun bird feeder made from an old china teacup and saucer and ordered it. We hung it on a shepherd’s hook at the edge of our patio, instead of out among our trees. This has been fun for me to see all the little birds that have been coming to our house for “tea.”
We have a male and female cardinal that visit several times a day and it has gotten to the point that this teacup bird feeder must be supplied with birdseed several times a day to keep up with the demand.
The other day, the Millers did not replenish the seed in time for the cardinals and the female decided she was going to let us know that the feeder was empty. She flew up to our family room window and fluttered her wings for several seconds while looking in our window as if to say, “Could you fill up the feeder? We are hungry.” I could not believe it and had never seen a bird do that before. So of course, the bird feeder was quickly replenished, and mama and daddy cardinal had lunch.
This morning as I am looking out at the beautiful central Indiana May morning and seeing that our bird feeder, once again, needs to be replenished, I am thinking about the birds and mama cardinal, specifically. I have come to enjoy watching her and want to make sure she always has the seed she needs and wants.
It reminds me of the Bible verse in Matthew 6:26 that states:
“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?
And in Luke 12:6-7:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God?
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
God does care about us and everything that concerns us. Last week my oldest grand blessing told me about a prayer that God answered for her and her best friend. I think it perfectly describes how much God cares about even the little things in our life. Allow me to share that story with you and I think you will see what I mean.
My grand blessings live next door to a family that have two girls that have become great friends and playmates to our grand blessings over the past seven years. The neighbors are moving to a new home and the girls are sad that it will not be as easy as running next door to play with their friends anymore. Last weekend was the weekend for the move, but my grand blessings’ mom and dad had already planned a camping excursion for their family. On Thursday night, the girls played outside together until dark, one last time. The camping trip was not as much fun as was originally thought so my grand blessings’ mom and dad decided to cut the trip short and come home late on Saturday night. My grand blessing’s friend was delighted because that gave them Sunday to play together, as neighbors, one last time.
The sparkle in my little grand blessing’s eye when she was telling me that story became even brighter when she said her friend had prayed, they would come home early so the girls could play. She was so matter of fact and not surprised that God answered that prayer. I reminded her that God cares about everything that concerns her and she said, “I know.” That made me smile.
If God cares about the birds and little girls having more time to play together, he cares about you and what you are going through today. We are living in difficult times and it can feel like the world is spinning out of control, but we do not have to face it alone.
Isaiah 41:13 tells us:
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand, it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 43:2:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8:
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
I pray you know how much God loves you and cares about what you are going through. He is right there with you and will give you the strength you need. Talk to him and let him know how you feel, he is listening, and he cares.
Here is a sweet version of an old song written in 1901 based on 1 Peter 5:7:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
I love these words:
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.
At the end of the song, the story behind the song is shared. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2nm4gB7Sk