“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24

Birds

Sitting at my computer, I see a magpie on a branch with its mouth open. It breaks my heart to see these birds in this heat, but I know their heavenly Father cares for them. I care for them as well and have set a large bowl and smaller bowl on a table and several on our porch railing to help them find water.

Corvids are a family of birds including magpies, ravens, and crows. Crows bring memories of my grandfather. He used to say, “As the crow flies”, meaning in a straight line. He also used to say, “See my crocheted shoes?”

I would say, “They don’t look crocheted to me!”

To which he questioned, “Well, what shade is a crow?”

“Black,” I said rolling my eyes as he lifted his foot with a gesture to his black shoe saying,

“See, I told you that they were crow-shade shoes!”

Getting back to my magpie, the bird would fly down to the railing, walk around the railing, study the food and water, but would get nervous and fly away. I kept saying, “What are you afraid of? It is water; it won’t hurt you, but sure could help you!” But the magpie never could manage to trust that it was water, or that it would be safe to drink and possibly life-saving.

Disappointed by the reluctance of the bird to “taste and see”, I thought about how our lost or wandering loved ones have a similar kind of resistance to Jesus. They are somewhat tempted, but reluctant to accept the offered help because they believe lies and do not understand God’s love for them and our love for them. It’s hard to trust when you have been beaten down by this worldly life. I want to say, “What are you afraid of? Jesus is the answer you need, the help you desire. Taste and see, the Lord is good.” Isaiah 55:1a calls: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…”

In Matthew 10:29 we are reminded, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” God feeds and cares for the birds, but we are more valuable to Him. Take heart in that assurance, my friend—our “birds”, whether in or out of our nest, are being cared for by God, and He is watching over them because He cares for them even more than we can imagine. Trust Him.

Thank You, Lord, that we can trust into Your care our loved ones, and ourselves, with complete abandon and sweet surrender.