Lessons learned from Song Birds

To me, there is nothing more beautiful then birds. I love watching them interact with each other - watching the different breeds all share the same feeding spot. Once in awhile, someone gets a little greedy and gets chased out or chases someone else away, but for the most part the birds all get along. Many times I've thought that people could learn some lessons from watching the birds. I love watching them look for food and they are never worried, because it seems that they know that God always provides for them. Whether it is bird seed from a feeder, seeds from a plant, bugs, water - they just don't worry - it' will be provided. Many times when I am so caught up in the problems of the circumstances I am going through, I really need to remind myself to watch the birds. The great lesson that we can learn from watching them is:

• #1 -  Trust God. Always. Know in your heart that God has your best interest in His heart and is always there for you. Lesson learned: never doubt God.
• #2 - Be wary for predators, the birds are always on guard for their enemies. We need to be wary of the enemy aka Satan and his lies and schemes which will draw us away from God. Lesson learned: be on guard always for the trick from the devil and stay in God's Word and presence.
• #3 - Sing Praises to the Lord. My favorite 'alarm clock' is the songs from the birds (and lately we have a bird that likes to wake up at 3AM). And I believe that they are singing their morning prayers to God, thanking Him for the day ahead, for the food that they know he will provide, for shelter in the storms. Usually, the Robins are the first to wake up, but now the new birds in the neighborhood evidently like to get up before the Robins - haven't figured out which birds they are yet, but how can you get angry - even at 3AM - at the beautiful song they are singing? I love how they also have different songs they sing at dusk, again songs of Praise and Thanks to God for a beautiful day. Lesson learned: Praise God always - sing, pray, dance - all for Our Father in Heaven.
• #4 - Keep in contact with family and friends. Many times I will hear the sound of the male Cardinal calling for his mate, calling and then patiently waiting for her response. Once in awhile, he will have to move to another tree or higher up to call for her, but she always answers. I love listening to the birds communicating back and forth across the yards during the day. Many times I've often felt it would be great to be like a Dr. Doolittle and understand what they are saying to each other. Are they brothers or sisters catching up on the family news? Or are they (as I imagine from growing up, two housewives talking back and forth between the yards) 'bird wives' gossiping back and forth about what the others have done. Of maybe 'teenage' birds talking about the other 'young birds' in the neighborhood. Lesson learned: never walk away from family, always stay in contact with them. God blessed us with family and friends for a reason, cherish them always.
• #5 - Look out for storms. My Grandpa Phil taught me about the birds and said they were the best at forecasting the weather. Just watch them. They are quite active, almost frantic, before a big storm hits  and I'm talking hours. Feeding, calling to each other and finally before the big storm hits - silence. Once in awhile, just before the storm hits, you will hear a single chirp that will travel across the yards between the birds, I'm guessing to make sure all are there and ready or maybe letting each other know what is coming or just reassurance that all will be well, trust in God, hang tight. Lesson learned: During the storms in life, trust God to get you through. Many times the words: 'Be Not Afraid' are repeated over and over in the Bible. God said them for a reason.
• #6 - Perserverance. Last fall, we had a big wind storm blow through that took down the Orioles nest from our front tree. This nest has been there for many years and we have 2 Oriole couples that always come back every year. We have one nest in the front yard and one in the back yard. When I seen that the nest in the front yard was literally blown off the branches, I was really sad thinking they might not come back this year since their home was gone. But that didn't deter them. They were back singing beautifully and re-built their home in the top branches of the same tree. Lesson to learn? The loss of their home didn't get them down, they just pulled up their birdie britches and re-built it on the same spot.  Their songs were just as joyous re-building their new home as it always is when they arrive for the summer. I was so happy to see they re-built their nest and thrilled to watch them start another family. Lesson learned: Don't give up, when life knocks you down, get back up. God sends on these journeys for a reason - to learn. Especially to learn to depend on Him, He is always there for us.
• #7 - Never leave your family. We also have an Eastern Phoebe couple that decided to build their nest right outside our front door, on top of a big, round thermometer. I was a bit apprehensive when I seen them building this and many friends have suggested removing it so they won't attack us. But I felt that the Good Lord wanted them to build there and they felt safe, so my son and I decided to leave it be. And so far, we are living in a peaceful harmony - she watches for the front door to open and flies away to the bushes in front of the garage. She also watched for the car to pull in the driveway and flies to the shepherds hook in the front yard waiting for us to get in the house. Papa Phoebe just sits in the bushes watching. The only time she did not move was during a severe storm and I had to leave to pick my son up from work. She sat on her nest and wasn't moving. I was very worried that when I opened the door, she would fly out, but she didn't. This greatly impressed me that she was not leaving her babies/eggs no matter what. Reminded me of the many times, I put on my 'mom army boots' for my sons. Both Eastern Phoebes are never far away from their nest and it makes me smile that they trust us to stay and know we would not hurt their babies either. Now at night when I come home from work late, my son will open the door slowly, so I can get in and we don't disturb her. She sleepily watches us and then snuggles back down on her eggs. Her mate, always either on the shepherds hook keeping watch or in the trees next to the driveway - he is never far away from his family. Lesson learned:  God nevers leaves us, just as we should never leave our own family.
• #8 - Let go of anger. If you watch the birds, you will once in awhile see an angry bird (and I'm not talking about the game here). And, oooooooo, there is nothing like an angry bird telling you or someone off. You thought your mom could yell? Listen to an angry bird yell. But, watch and that bird will let go of the anger quickly (well most of the time, I have seen male Geese who are on the angry side - but then again, I think that is more show than anything). I've watched pairs of birds get really angry at each other and have joked around with my sons - looks like a domestic going on in the Robin house, or the sparrow house or whatever bird couple is yelling. Then those same bird couples have let go of the anger and feeding each other, or singing sweetly back and forth. Lesson learned: God forgives us all the time, whether we ask or not. But it helps when we get on our knees and apologize to Him for the wrongs we have done. So we need to follow God's example and forgive those who have hurt us as well. Always remember this commandment from Jesus: John 15:12 - "This is My commandment: that ye love one another, as I have loved you."

The list could go on, but I will stop here. My hope is that after reading this you all will: Take time to watch the birds and learn from them. Take time to listen to their songs of Praise and remember to Praise God ourselves. Take time to check in on family and friends and let them know you care. Take time to say I love you. Most importantly, take time for God everyday.

Little Prayers

This morning I had a reminder that God answers all prayers - even the smallest requests. And when He answered that simple little prayer this morning, I had a huge smile on my face and I know that God had an even bigger smile on His face.

While shopping earlier with my son, God answered a little prayer regarding my sunglasses. In the middle of the store, I went to hand my son, Mark, a pen to cross off items on the list and my sunglasses popped out of the side pocket of my purse (I have the type of glasses that sunglasses fit on with magnets. My eyes are so sensitve that I cannot be without sunglasses when I'm outside). Mark and I laughed as my sunglasses were hanging on the metal cart because of the strong magnet, so I put them back in the side pocket where they belong. When we went to leave, I went to put on my sunglasses and they weren't there. Mark and I were searching everywhere, he even walked back through the store following where we went to see if they were laying on the ground (he had seen me put them back in the pocket). A very kind gentleman sitting at the front of the store even helped him look around there. No sunglasses in site. So I took the cart out to load the car and he walked the store. While walking to the car I said a prayer to St. Anthony (who, in case you don't k now, is the patron Saint of lost things and he has helped us find many things over the years) and I asked St. Anthony to guide Mark to find my sunglasses (thinking they had to be somewhere in the store). While I was walking to my car and squinting, my eyes were starting to hurt and a headache was starting to form, I said a quick prayer to God , "Father God, you are the only one who knows exactly where my sunglasses are and you know I need them to see in the bright light, Lord Jesus help me to find them." At the end of my prayer, I had reached my car and walked around to the back of the cart to start loading the things in the trunk and there right in the cart and laying on a bag (which looked like someone flattened it out smooth) lay my sunglasses - just like someone had gently laid them there for me to see. Thank you God!!! Totally a God smile. I knew right away who put my sunglasses there, smoothing out the bag to be flat and I thanked God for that quick answer.

Sometimes, we need that reassurance about answered prayers especially when we are going through what I call, the desert time - when God is silent. It's a hard time to go through - you're faith is being tested. At times like this, I do know that God does indeed hear my prayers, but it's easy to get frustrated and yell at God that He's not listening. You can't help but feel alone, yet deep down we know that we are not alone, that God is right there. He's got our back. And like a patient father watching His beloved child take baby steps, He is watching us as we take these steps on our individual journeys. Learning to completely trust Him. This is a very hard lesson to learn, but one God is so patient with us to learn - complete trust in HIM.

Just last night, while sitting at my prayer window asking for God's help with a very troubling issue in my life, I knew God was listening and is answering my prayers, as the beloved person I was praying over and for walked under my window. God was listening to my heart-felt plea and letting me know that He's got it covered. God is always listening and helping us to learn, we just need to be open to His lessons.  We just have to let go and let God do His work. Total trust in Him.

Recently at a meeting with my prayer team, while discussing answered prayers, someone pointed out that sometimes God answers those little prayers to get you ready for the answer to your big prayer and also, just to remind you - 'Yes, my child, I am here and I am listening. I love you. Don't worry.' Today was one of those little prayers that was answered quickly and I am so greatful for God's help not only in finding my sunglasses, but teaching me to totally trust in Him. And when I prayed that little, seemingly unimportant prayer, in my heart I knew that God was the only one who knew exactly where those glasses were and He was the only one who could find them and He did, but only after I totally turned my trust over to God to help.....