31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes
“In my time of need, I called to the Eternal; I begged my True God for help. He heard my voice echo up to His temple, and my cry came to His ears.” Psalm 18:6 (The Voice)
Day 28: While
It’s no secret that I love birds and enjoy feeding and photographing them. I start almost every day with coffee, sitting in my chair, watching out the window as the birds partake of their morning feast. That is, until this summer. Something strange happened and I didn’t like it one bit!
Grackles (in the blackbird family) swooped in and landed on the grass under my “bird cafe.”
Fewer and fewer of my regular visitors came to the feeders as more and more grackles arrived. As the number of grackles grew, the fewer finches, titmice, nuthatches, and cardinals stopped in. Pretty soon the lawn appeared black as the flock of grackles daily foraged on it. I’m talking 25-30 boisterous birds. Much to my dismay, they seemed content to stay despite my efforts to discourage them and soon the little feathered friends I love disappeared from my feeders all together.
Finally, it became apparent that to prompt the interlopers to move on I’d just have to stop filling the feeders, and so I did. It took several days for them to clean up all that had fallen to the ground below, but eventually they finally moved on. I was overjoyed until……the familiar little birds didn’t come back. I waited expectantly as time passed but they still didn’t return. I. Was. Heartbroken.
What’s a bird brain like me to do when hers are missing? I prayed. Yes, I know it’s silly and I even told God I knew He had more important things to worry about. But I prayed for “my birds” to return anyway. Anyone else pray for goofy things?
Once in a while something happens that fills me with such awe that it overflows from my heart and down my cheeks. The very next day after my plea to God, I looked out the window and couldn’t believe my eyes! (Although I should have.) Scurrying head first down a tree branch toward the waiting sunflower seeds was a nuthatch, my favorite of all the birds! After weeks of their absence, but not even 24 hours after I prayed, God sent me a message through a little gray and white bird. “I hear you,” He said, and I cried.
You see, I’d already been struggling and wondering if my voice mattered to God at all. Maybe you’ve wondered too. A silly prayer and the gift of a bird’s return reassure me it does. They’ve also given me confidence to believe that those BIG things I’ve been praying for have been heard, too and that God is working them out in His time and in His way just like He did at my bird feeders.
“Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come.”
Philippians 4:6 (The Voice, emphasis mine)
When it comes to our prayers, big or seemingly insignificant, what a comfort Paul offers us to know God “longs to hear” them all! Now, we need to watch with expectation for what comes. And when it does, whether in years or hours, we can join in with the Psalmist with thanksgiving and proclaim:
“But surely God has heard me; He has paid attention to the urgency of my request.
Mat the True God be blessed, for He did not turn away from my prayer
nor did He hold back His loyal love from me.”
Psalm 66:19-20 (The Voice)
We never know if silly things
that in their absence, bring a tear
(like not seeing nuthatch wings!)
are that which God holds most dear.
He made us with these tender hearts
that make much of smallest graces;
is this how we play our parts,
yoked in leather to the traces
that move the creaking wagon on
(though analogy’s quite flawed)
through the night and to the dawn
that sings and praises, honours God?
I think, and hope that Heaven’s whole
purpose is the humble soul.
I love this.
And isn’t it how those answers to prayer for small things mean so much? When we see that nothing is too small for Him, and He blesses us with something so seemingly small and personal. That touches my heart most of all.
Oh, me too Sandra and this particular answer just overwhelmed me with gratitude! I did feel seen and known! Thank you for taking time to comment. I always enjoy your insight!
I love this story. I remember when we talked about this whole ordeal. I hadn’t heard the end result. I thank God for saying yes and getting those pesky birds out of there and bringing back the bird you love most. One of my friends has a little plaque that says, “In the waiting God is working.” We see so little of what God is preparing for us. It’s almost always a complete surprise. God cares about everything even if we don’t see it.