A Nice Reminder
*Editor’s Note: This week marks the second anniversary of Seeing Creation. Rob and I want to thank all of you who take the time to read our reflections and for the encouragement you have given us these past two years.
Yesterday I received a nice reminder. When I came home from work I was getting ready to enter the house when something caught my attention. On the edge of our driveway (which is on a hill) I saw a small object rise momentarily and then fall. I wasn’t quite sure what I had just seen so I went to look and see. Come to find out it was a young mockingbird that was not yet able to fly. I’m not exactly sure how it got on the edge of the driveway to begin with but apparently when it saw me come home it was spooked and tried to fly. It instead tumbled a short distance where I found it resting unharmed.
I immediately went into the house to get my camera so that I could photograph the young bird. As I started to take some pictures I heard a ruckus above me. The bird’s mother was sitting in a nearby tree and didn’t seem to be happy about my being so close to her chick. I hurriedly took my pictures and left.
While all of this was going on I couldn’t help but think of a passage of scripture found in Luke 12:6. Here Jesus says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God?” In this same setting Jesus went on to say, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (v. 7) As I thought of this passage I realized that I was not the only one who saw the little mockingbird fall. So did our heavenly Father. Jesus made it abundantly clear that God is concerned for all of his Creation, even tiny birds that tumble off of driveways in Pikeville, Kentucky.
Thinking of Jesus’ words I was also given the wonderful reminder that the God who cares for sparrows and mockingbirds also cares for me. Jesus made sure that we understood that we humans are very special to God and that if we can remember that He loves even the little creatures we can rest assured He loves and cares for us.
The whole point in Jesus sharing these words was to offer an encouraging word. Because of our Father’s love we do not have to live our lives in fear. We can have confidence that we live under our Creator’s watchful eye. We can find great peace and joy knowing that we are loved. A nice reminder indeed!
–Chuck
(The bird in the two images above is the one described in today’s entry.)