“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”~Luke 12:6-8
I hung three bird feeders from our trees this weekend. I looked for low-lying branches where I might get a good glimpse of the action from the kitchen window. Quite by accident, I discovered the best view is from the smallest pane of glass in the laundry room. Serendipity, considering how much of my life I spend in there. Now, along with the hum and heat, I have the company of feathered friends.
It took a few days for the birds to find the seed, but after I accidentally spilled a handful of it on the snow, they showed up and kept coming. Sparrows and Blue Jays and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers. Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, and Chickadees settled in around the branches. In one day, I spotted more birds than I have all winter long. It seems like the simplest thing in the world, to offer a scattering of bird seed and to receive such a joyful fluttering of color and wings and birdsong in return.
I find myself living in a very small place right now. A place so small, that the slightest bit of color catches my eye and keeps it. An almost imperceptible flutter of joy comes at the sight of wings and feathers. My world has shrunk considerably over the last year, and opportunities for growth and purpose and fullness of life have disappeared into one that finds me hunting for anything that might bring light and joy from cramped laundry rooms with tiny windows.
This morning, the sparrows found the seed scattered on the snow before the others arrived. They flocked around the smallest seeds, and they ate their fill. As I watched them chatter and peck their way around the food, the words of Luke came to mind. On days when I feel unseen and so very small, it helps to remember that I am not forgotten. My portion may be small right now, but it is enough to see me through the winter. Spring and it’s bounty of light and warmth and color will come.
………….
What small things are bringing you joy right now?
