A TIME TO SING

Hello!  I’m a Song Sparrow & do I have a story for you!

Hi!  I couldn’t allow the day to pass without sharing about a “new feathered friend” that adorned our yard.  She had been there for several weeks and I never heard her sing.  You know why?   Because even though I puttered around in our little flower garden almost daily, I never quieted myself long enough to “hear her” wee voice.

This particular day I was weary.  I mean “really tired” both emotionally and physically.  My body and soul announced….”Today is going to be your day of REST.”

My husband prepared a big delight, an “iced latte.”  And then, I gave myself permission (do you need to do that too, in your life?) to sit under the umbrella and just rest. 

And if you’re taking notes, I remained in that position for at least two (2) hours.  So, if you feel you need to do that, just call or write, and I’ll grant that request to encourage you to rest your mind, soul, heart and body!!

It doesn’t cost much at all, but it does require a “personal and committed decision” to stop whatever you’re doing, or feel you need to do, and SIT STILL, BE STILL, THINK STILL.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God;”

This verse encourages stillness!

Have you ever taken the time to rehearse this verse slowly?  Let me bring you along to this “restful moment.”  Say aloud….

That simple exercise brings calmness and gives full release of anxiety.  You and I are not really in charge of life…………GOD IS!   In His love and grace, He issues not only our daily bread, but our daily BREATH!

Well, back to the patio and the iced latte.  If you were here, I’d share one with you.  We had a very busy and delightful week of having friends stay in our home.  I love that!  However, after the adrenaline calms down from enthusiasm of enjoying people and making meals; I sensed the real need to just go slow and relax.

We have a little fountain that we brought back to Canada when we moved from Arizona.  I had turned on this quiet “entertainment” media and just sat on the patio chair.

It took me about fifteen minutes or so to begin to wind down.  Then, it happened. A tiny Song Sparrow appeared on the top of the fountain, which was only 1 yard (meter)away from me.  I looked up at her, and she looked down at me.  Right after our eyes met, she began her “musical repertoire” of her species.

I felt as though I was in attendance of a “feathered symphony.”  This little female sang off and on for TWO HOURS.  She’d drink and bathe from the water in the fountain several times, but she continued to hover all around me with her song.

A very heart-felt emotion just came over me. My eyes were filled with tears and I felt as though my heart and soul were leaping for joy.  It “dawned” on me that this delicate bird was sent by my Savior to serenade me with her joyful song.   God gifted Song Sparrows with a melodic song, and she was exercising her giftedness from Him.  And I was the recipient of this two-hour solo symphony.

Proverbs 3:5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; but in ALL YOUR WAYS, ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, and He will DIRECT YOUR PATH.”

Yes, He directs our individual path.  That includes our “starts” and “stops.”  And on this afternoon, my steps were stopped…………….so I could “taste and see that the Lord is good.”  Psalm 34:8 

Quietly, I wondered to myself, why hadn’t I ever heard her or seen her before??

Reason:  I hadn’t quieted myself long enough to see and hear her. 

Couldn’t that be why we don’t hear and see God more in our daily living?  We often adopt the “activity addiction” of the world:  talking too much, listening less, checking our cell phones for texts that we simply can’t miss, over-concerned about what people may be thinking about us.  Believe me, if we knew the real truth, people may seldom be thinking about us.   And that’s an entire other topic.

A long time ago, I remember lying on our sofa for a “mini 15-minute vacation from activity” and I heard a man share from his sermon the following:

“If you’re too busy to pray…..you’re too busy.” 

I remember leaping up off the sofa and giving his words real consideration.  Praying is talking with our Lord Jesus.  Our words and thoughts of Him needn’t be long or complicated; but it’s sharing with Him (who knows us completely and loves us passionately) our life down here.  

Like taking a walk with a friend; it much more fun chatting and commenting about all we see and feel.  If we’ve invited the Lord Jesus to come into our life, and live His life in us and through us; He delights to hear from us….in our thoughts, words or deeds.

Why not take just 30 minutes and move yourself outside to a quiet place and just “be still & listen” to the Creator of this world, the world in which you reside and be CONTENT.

Note: two weeks later, she and her mate moved to another location

I’d call that…..DIVINE TIMING