Look at the Birds

I have long been fascinated with birds. In fact, in eighth grade I declared that I wanted to be an ornithologist and I did my entire science fair project on which birds ate what types of seeds and suet from various types of feeders. Our family’s backyard became a bird Shangri-La for a time.

Then I have recently realized that that I have many bird-themed items in my home that I look at every day.

Unconsciously, I suppose, I have been following the words of Jesus all my life:

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26

So I decided to take Jesus up on his request and take a look at the bird images around my house and see what I learn:

This is a metal bird I found at a Ben Franklin store in Iowa City, Iowa: It reminds me that though birds often seem weak, they can be very strong, weathering many storms and ever-changing seasons year-in and year-out. Jesus often reminds me that I am stronger than I think I am, thanks to his power within me and that I can weather any storm that comes my way in life.

This is a festive bird figurine that I received from a friend at Christmastime: It helps me to celebrate as birds do, singing and tweeting (literally, not on the computer!) every morning, welcoming each new day with joy. Whenever I hear a bird chirp, I am instantly put at ease. I am going to think of how my utterances of celebration of life can bring bring joy to others.

This is a bird pillow that another friend gave to me for a house-warming present, and I have set it on an old pew that came from my grandparents: This bird recalls for me that birds like to build comfortable nests for themselves and their offspring, just like we build comfortable “nests” of sorts in the form of our homes. The placement of the bird pillow on the pew also calls to mind the comfort that I receive when I sit in the pews at the house of God each week. Through his Word, God brings me comfort and keeps me safe.

Make a point of keeping an eye and ear open for birds this week and take a closer look at them to see what you can learn from them, as Jesus taught us to.