Thank God for birds ... except crows

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things -- food, drink and

clothes. For you already have life and a body -- and they are far

more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They

don’t worry about what to eat -- they don’t need to sow or reap or

store up food -- for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far

more valuable to Him than they are. Will all your worries add a

single moment to your life?”

-- Matthew 6:25-27

The Living Bible

“You can buy two sparrows for a penny; yet not a single one of

them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. As for you,

even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be

afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows.”

-- Matthew 10: 29-31

Today’s English Version

Birds fascinate me. I’m amazed that God created so many species in

so many different colors that sing so many diverse songs. It’s

remarkable to me that birds like geese inherently know it is more

efficient to fly in V-formation and why and when to fly north or

south.

Penguins are comical-looking as they waddle around looking like

they are dressed in tuxedos, swans are elegant, parrots are colorful

and can be talkative. There is undoubtedly something unique about

each and every bird, as there is about everybody on the face of the

Earth, and God created each one for a reason.

There are some birds I don’t particularly like, however. I am not

a big fan of crows, especially when they gather for crow conventions

on our roof in the early morning.

I’ve watched birds more since a phone conversation with a friend

named Marcia. She was excited about her day, as I had been earlier

that morning. By noon though, I’d begun to worry about a lot of

decisions I needed to make.

“Cindy, while I’m talking with you, I’m looking outside at my

little birdbath and watching four little sparrows,” she said. “They

may not be colorful, but they are adorable. After their bath, they

warm themselves in the sun; they’re just sitting on the concrete and

ruffling their feathers. They stand on the ivy-covered wall and wait

their turns to get in the bath. It gets me back to the simple things

in life.”

We talked about birds and trusting God. Then she reminded me of

the two verses at the top of this column.

I looked out our kitchen window as we talked. A tiny, brilliantly

colored hummingbird hovered while sipping nectar from flowers. He

didn’t seem to mind my watching him and it almost looked like he had

a little smile on his face. I went out to our backyard and watched

crows bounce around the grass and later some sparrows flew by.

Throughout the day, I watched as different birds sang or flew or did

what birds are designed to do. None of the birds looked worried at

all.

“Thank you God, for birds and the colorful and creative reminders

of your love,” I said as I walked around our yard. If God knows when

birds fall, and the numbers of hair on our heads, then it makes sense

to trust Him more, and to worry less.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

[email protected] or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Suite 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.