Its for the birds . . .

 

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." ~Luke 12:7

When we lived down South, we were very blessed to live in quite a rural setting. There was not a lot of action around there, unless you counted the great variety of birds and wildlife that kept us company in our garden, such as sparrows, foxes and bunnies. It was a boon to Todd and I, because we love nature, and we loved watching it. I have always felt that one never feels closer to God than when they are surrounded by his beautiful creations.

Occasionally, a bird would find it's way inside our house. For a long time we wondered exactly how they were getting in. It was a great mystery to us. One morning, however,  I discovered the answer, as I had to rescue not one, but two, birds . . .  as I watched them one by one flutter out from behind the wood stove in the cottage kitchen. It was a very old wood stove and had not been used for years and years. Apparently it had been the source of a fire at one time.  I had always thought it a bit of an eyesore to be perfectly honest  . . .  

  

My goodness but birds do panic when they get inside!! (I don't blame them!)They fly about and throw themselves against the windows. They can see freedom . . . just out there beyond the glass . . . but they are not able to break their way through and find it. They need someone to open the windows and let them out. It's quite scary exciting really, when they are fluttering around.  I remember ducking and weaving, and trying to make it towards the windows so that I could open them without them flying into me, and also without causing any more distress for them than they were in already. (They also leave a mess behind as they leave little calling cards wherever they land, but that's a whole nother story!) The whole time our collie Jess was running around in circles and barking with excitement. It was great adventure for her, however unsettling it was for me.  (I still think of our Jess and miss her. I think I always will. She was very special to both of us. Thank goodness for Mitzie who has helped to fill the great void that was left when we lost Jess.) 

This  morning as I sit here and ponder the great adventure of those birds getting into the house, I realise that it is a little bit like ourselves. In this life we are living here on earth, we are a bit like sparrows trapped in a house, beating ourselves against the glass of the windows for a freedom we can see just beyond our reach, but somehow cannot touch. We need someone to come and rescue us as well . . . someone who will open up that window and show us the way to go through. We fling ourselves about and beat ourselves against the glass, and make all sorts of messes while we are fluttering our wings and flying about . . . at times in a panic. Sometimes we just sit there, our hearts beating quickly, in despair and bewilderment at the predicament we find ourselves in. We flail about and wrestle to find the answers to the great mystery of how we find ourselves where we are, all the while looking for answers . . . looking for a way out. We need the touch of the Master's hand to show us the way, to guide us . . . to open the window . . . to set us free. 

 

 As a child in Sunday School we used to sing a hymn that I loved. I loved it so much, that I can still remember the words. To this day it lifts my heart to sing them:

"God sees the little sparrow fall,
it meets His tender view;
If God so loves the little birds,
I know He loves me too.

He loves me too, He loves me too,
I know He loves me too;
Because He loves the little things,
I know He loves me too."
~Maria Straub, 1874

It makes me feel good, and safe, to know that, no matter what life may throw at me from time to time, I have a Heavenly Father who loves even me, and who cares for me, and who has shown me the way to get through the glass, and to break free of the chains that the world might use to bind me. To coin a phrase from Martha Stewart . . . "It's a good thing." 

 

The Chapel cleaning went well yesterday.  We were there and back before we knew it. The Bishop and his whole family cleaned the sanctuary. It was so lovely to see them all, as a family, doing this together, from he and his wife, down through the children, the youngest one who is only about 2. Each had their own little job to do. It did my heart good to see it. There are some who might complain about having to clean the chapel.  It is a rich church after all, and they used to pay people to clean it . . .  but yesterday, as I was thinking about it I realised what an inspired decision it was for our leaders to revert the responsibility for cleaning the chapel to its members.  Everyone takes a turn doing one job at the cleaning, on one occasion through the year,  from every spectrum of the membership. I believe this  helps to instill respect and reverence for this building we are so blessed to meet in, through these small acts of sacrifice and service from its members. And when it comes to families, they get to participate in this sacrifice and service together, as the parents teach their children by example.  I think its a very good thing.

Afterwards we stopped at Starbucks for a drink.  I had a delicious orange and lime fizzy drink that was very good.  There was no sugar in it and it constituted as one of my five a day, which was a good thing also!  We don't often do something like that, go into a Starbucks for a drink or anything like that together. Boy but the cakes and things are so tempting aren't they?  I resisted. 

Once we got home it was such a lovely day that Todd decided to wash the car, and I worked a bit on my next book.  Two chapters down 10 to go.  I like how it is shaping up!

More sad news yesterday.  I found out on FB that the husband of a long time friend of mine had passed away very suddenly.  Edgar was a sweet man and such a good husband and father, a real pillar of their community, where he had been born and lived his whole life. He will be missed. He wasn't even very old.  Only 59. It was very unexpected.  Please keep the Smith Family in your deepest prayers as they try to come to terms with their loss. His wife was my best friend when I lived in New Brunswick. Debbie lived directly across the street from me, and once we got to know each other we became fast friends. We were pretty inseparable for the whole time I lived there. We served as Hot Lunch moms in the elementary school together and spent many hours cooking and crafting together, and travelling around from one craft sale to another as we plied our wares. It pained me when my time of living in that small community came to an end, and my family moved to another province.  I missed my good friend very much.

I am so grateful for the many good friends I have made through the years.

A thought for today  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛Keep away from people 

who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that,

but the really great make you

feel that you, too, can become great.

~Mark Twain   •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Banana, Rum, Date and Walnut Tea Loaf. This is sooooo good!

Have a great Sunday! Be Blessed!  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!