On my back porch, with a little time to think, I began to consider birds to be one of God’s most lovely and excellent things. Birds are amazing, and beautiful, and so full of life and color. How do they fly so high and free and far? On a wing and a prayer of course.
Spring is announced as the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ along, along. That silly rockin’ robin. You always get the worm. I am charmed as thy beak eats, “that thou, light-winged dryad of the trees singest of summer in full-throated ease.”
In many ways, I’m like a bird. I don’t eat like a bird. But when people get close, I’ll only fly away. I think I’m free as a bird now. And this bird you cannot change.
I have lots of questions about birds. I don’t know why the caged bird sings? I wonder what it sounds like when doves cry? Even doves have pride. I love the dove. Should I care about what the blue bird tweets? If birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can’t I? If I had two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree, would my true love think them to be an appropriate gift? What’s this bluebird doing on my shoulder? And, what do birds have to do with bees?
If I could choose a kind of bird to be, which would I choose? I don’t want to be a chicken, I don’t want to be a duck. I certainly don’t want to be a disco duck. I don’t want to be a yellow bird up high in a banana tree. I don’t want to be a mockingjay. Black birds could all leave if it were up to me. Bye, bye, blackbird.
I would like to fly like an eagle and let my spirit carry me. Actually, Bible prophecy promises, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Jesus invites us to, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap not gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
Our God loves birds. What a great part of creation to think about! “Not one of them is forgotten before God” (Luke 12:6). Thinking about birds has been uplifting. It makes my heart soar, and leaves me singing that familiar song, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” As I watch the birds and meditate about them, I am on God’s mind, in His thoughts, and in His protective presence.