MY LITTLE FRIEND

                               

                  

If you’ve read any of my stories, you’ll recall my wee Canadian Hummingbird who became a long-time friend…..until we moved to Australia.   You’ll think I’m little “off,” but I felt responsible for her daily nutrition, especially since she had been feeding at my outside diner for almost three years.   My neighbor kindly adopted the feeding routine in her yard where she perched in a small tree throughout the day.

After our move and transition to Australia I wondered if God would ever grant me another opportunity to get up close and personal with His feathered creatures.    They are such a delight to my heart.

We had been in our home about two weeks and already I was on the lookout for birds.  Australia is filled with a marvelous array of birds of all kinds and sizes.   One bird in particular that I longed to see was a Kookaburra.    A dear friend of mine that had lived in Australia for many years shared many a story about Kookaburras.  In fact at one visit to her home we were talking about these birds and she burst forth, right in front of my eyes, making the sound of this bird.   To be honest, she mimicked the sound so well, that she sounded more like a Kookaburra than the actual bird.

One morning my husband and I were sitting on our patio and glancing out over the large arena of trees and land that we face towards the back of our home in Australia.   I was missing “little Hummer” and the closeness I had with this tiny little creature. Then, it dawned on us both.   Let’s ask God to send me a Kookaburra.

A few weeks had gone by, on this particular day we both heard the sound of a Kookaburra.  In no time we were out of our chairs and into the fridge to grab some ready-cut pieces of raw meat (a Kookaburra’s delight).  We then bounded out the front door, around the house, and into the field behind us.    We finally spotted two of them in a very tall eucalyptus tree.   They were both about 14” long, so they were a bit easier to locate than a small bird.   We threw the meat into the air near the tree they were sitting in, and kept backing up to see what would happen next.

The two of them spotted the two pieces of meat we tossed wildly in their direction.   Minutes later, as we continued to back away, they both pounced on the “buffet” of raw meat.   When we first heard them and were able to spot them in the tall trees, we continued the meat-tossing exercise and slowly moving backwards until we were at the bottom of the hill which met the fenced area of our yard.        

Surprisingly, together they both arrived a day or two later at our fence.  The male came for only about six weeks and never returned.  He is the bird on the left in the photos below.  His feathers were lightly dusted with a teal blue coloring on each side of his body.  Perhaps he found a better “dining table.”

What we wanted them to know was apparent.   Both seemed to “take notice” of our home address.   I also made a little sound as we proceeded along the grassy area.  The “meat-lined” tour ended and we went into the house; hopeful they would make the connection between seeing us, and realizing we had a delectable cuisine available to them, if they would only stop by and check us out.

The next morning I repeated the “sounds” I had made upon that first toss out of the meat the day before, hoping they would remember the calls.  At this moment of my story, you might want to sit down and prepare yourself for what God did next.

Yes, God does delight to respond to those who call out to Him.   God knows each of our hearts, and our heart’s desires.   My desire was to see and enjoy, up close, one of His little creatures.  And this morning, the “feathered show” was about to begin.  

The new routine as we both enjoyed a latte together (I’m speaking now of my husband) was in place and suddenly there she appeared!   A Kookaburra!  In all her radiant glory of appearance of grey, white, brown and a touch of teal blue draped on her wings.   When she came she sat there for about 3 minutes.  None of us moved.    The idea came to me to make the sound I made each morning to let her realize, she was at the “correct address” for a raw-meat snack.  

We were ready for her for whenever she would appear.  We had cut up slivers of raw meat and had them ready for distribution in the fridge.   I rose from my chair, ever-so-slowly, to collect the selection of meat and bring it outside.

I needn’t have be concerned that she would fly away, because she was perched on the fence for a good ten minutes.  We began to speak softly in her direction, all the while tossing intermittently, pieces of this raw meat in her direction.   There was hesitation at first, but she soon perceived that this was a “fine-dining experience” and she had better indulge herself before other fine flying creatures would retrieve the food ahead of her.

It didn’t take her four pieces of meat to catch on; and each time I would toss the meat a little closer to my feet.   Each morning upon her arrival I would repeat the routine of tossing the delivery of raw meat toward her direction.  This went on for about a week.  Then she must have added our “take away” to her daily agenda.  She began coming around 6:00 am and then again around 4:30pm.   Don’t tell me Kookaburra’s don’t have a rapport with “fine diners.”

              Ok, I’m ready for the nibbles.  I just had to insert the “proof!”

I think “adoption papers” are in the future, don’t you

This daily routine continued for about two weeks.  What a joy to have her respond to my call in the morning.  Within a few minutes in all her beauty she would alight herself on the fence, with her eyes peering at  me, and waiting until I placed a piece of meat about 12” from my feet.  This was a little closer than she had planned.  After all why move closer if the meal is delivered within a foot of your beak.

She paused for what seemed a long time, and then she hopped off the fence and hopped over to my feet.  I kept dropping little pieces and she would just remain in her “receiving position” about 12” from my feet.  Clumsy me started to drop the last piece of meat and for some reason it stuck to my hand.   No problem….she just waltzed over and took it “right out of my hand.”

I was breathless for a moment and so pleased I was alert enough to let go of the dangling meat from my fingers.   After digesting all of the delicacies at this close-up range, off she hopped and flew away.    

That morning was just the beginning of our journey together.  She arrives every morning now to sit at my feet for personalized feeding. 

Wait now, this isn’t the end of the story.  After about a week something even more special took place.   I was sitting at the table, waiting for her arrival, and as I was sipping my latte, she flew in for a landing “right on top of the table next to me.”   She just sat there, anticipating an up-close and personal encounter.   Was I ever pleased I was ready with the “tasty bits” distribution, but I had no idea she would want to perch next to me on the table. 

She arrives each morning and afternoon and is no longer satisfied with the on-the-ground serving of treats.  She must sit right next to me.   For details, I mean within 12” of my face.   And yes, I always wear my eye glasses.   After she dines, she remains on the table looking directly at me….as if to say, “Will there be more food?”  After about two or three minutes, she turns to the side and looks afar off, and I’m thinking she is now considering what direction she’ll head for more delicacies in the woods.

No, this assumption isn’t right either.   When I’m sitting at the table by myself, she will often remain there for as long as ten minutes.  You’re no doubt wondering why the length of stay.   Well, you’ll need to ask her about that; but for the time she resides next to me, I just talk to her.   I use to talk to my houseplants, but now, I’m into more “living creature discussions.”   To my delight she listens intently, cocking her head from side to side with a continuing steady gaze into my eyes. 

Since the writing of this “encounter story,” she now makes regular appearances from two to four times a day.  And what’s so surprising is she sometimes “announces her arrival” by making the Kookaburra laughing sound.  As soon as that hilarious sound proceeds from her tiny little lungs, I proceed with increased speed out to the patio to let her know that I’ve heard her call and that a tasty bit is about to come from our refrigerator and into her tummy.  

I understood that kookaburras make that peculiar sound when weather patterns change, or to let their other family members know where they are located in the trees.   However, to make that sound for me, tells me that we’re more than just friends.    And I couldn’t be happier about the new friendship.

Because it’s been five months since this feathered delight entered my yard and heart, I must update this story with new photos of her.  I’ve named her Kathy!   When she first began coming into our yard, I had no idea of her age.  Several people who had seen her told me she was quite young.  With the passing of time, I’ve realized they were quite accurate in their estimation.  I would guess she’s less than a year old.  Enjoy the photos at the end of this story.

Now, for protection mode, I’m not sharing with you my home address, because I don’t wish a visit from the “men in the white coats” escorting me to a new “personalized home cage.”  

This little feathery creature, along with her husband, are gifts from God for my enjoyment.  So I’m not concerned about what you think about our daily verbal exchange.  I’ve named the “feathered couple…..” Kenny and Kathy Kookaburra, and yes they do respond to my verbal invitations at my patio table.   Kenny came to our fence regularly for about 6 weeks and then decided to go elsewhere for his dining, but Kathy is my regular visitor.

It’s thrilling to see her respond to my quiet comments and questions in her direction.   The length of her visits are never the same.  The other day she arrived and ate out of my hands for about three minutes.  She began to flutter her wings and my assumption was that she’d be in takeoff mode.  But as I continued speaking to her she remained.  She would cock her wee head from side to side and then peer right into my eyes, listening intently to every syllable.  

Before her arrival I had my Bible and a couple devotional books placed on the table.  After our one-way conversation, she hopped onto the books and began looking outward towards the wooded area behind us.   She seemed to have no fear of my presence, thus her back was toward me.  This is a highly unusual behavior for any bird.  

I continued my dialogue in her direction (I think that means I was talking behind her back).    Another few minutes passed and when she had enough verbiage, she lifted herself up from the table and off she headed into the woods.   

Before you see the collage of updated photos, I wanted to share with you the thoughts God brought to me through my “wee friend.”   This all occurred on Mother’s Day.  I joked with a few friends that I wondered if my new “little one” would bring me a Mother’s Day card.    Of course, it was supposed to be a funny statement.

But God, in His tender and unique ways, spoke to my heart through the poised little feet standing on my Bible that afternoon.   When I first looked at her new position, I chuckled in my heart that she was now “standing on the Word of God.”

She perched herself on my devotional book and Bible. I’d call that “standing on the promises of God, wouldn’t you?”                          

It wasn’t until the following day that what had happened I realized was God “speaking to me through His creation.”  Yes, we are to “stand upon His Word…..to listen, learn and obey God’s instructions in “our lives” and “for our lives.”   God used my kookaburra to encourage me to remain “standing on God’s Word, His truth, for my life.”

As if to confirm my thoughts, this same day a friend in the United States sent me a text sharing precisely what God placed upon my heart concerning this “event.”  

Yes, God wants to speak “to us” and “through us” to encourage others to come to Him and give Him their lives; and then “walk with God throughout each day” along their earthly pilgrimage.  Then, in wonder, when we draw our last breath here, we’ll be ushered into His presence to see Him “face to face.”    He longs to communicate to us through His Word, the Bible, through our circumstances, through people, and in our inner spirit that He places within us.

Oh, that we would turn down the “volume of our lives” to hear Him, to listen and gasp in wonder that God would use all sorts of methods to tell us we’re loved incredibly by Him.

My friend’s text alerted me profoundly that God comes close and personal to nourish our hearts and enrich our souls.  Let’s pause to actively and more intentionally be alert to enjoy all of God’s creation. 

Enjoying His creation is giving Him glory and praise…..He is so deserving.   He feeds our souls and reveals Himself through His created world…..let’s take the time to marvel at it.

After reading all of this you are probably saying to yourself, “this gal has a wild imagination.”  So, to give you a photo delight and to defend my story details, I have attached a photo to share with your friends.  Enjoy my new little friend that God has bestowed upon my table and heart. Praise the Lord for His beautiful creation. And even more amazing…….that He shares it with us.

GOD DOES DELIGHT IN THE DETAILS OF OUR LIVES!

 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in

every detail of their lives.  Psalm 37:2