Hummingbird Don’t Fly Away, Fly Away

 

This Sunday my daughter and grand-daughter came over for the afternoon and dinner. A wonderful time of laughter and excitement playing with the puppies and just taking in little Lillie Reese as explored every nook and cranny of our home.

It was right before dinner was ready that I stepped out the back door to walk the dogs when my heart sank. At my feet just beyond the screen door sat a precious little humming bird. He was just sitting on the step, not moving. I moved closer and it appeared to me that his wing was damaged, though I could not tell exactly how. I moved to gently pick him up and he fluttered and fell down to the next step, his wing was broken.

The lump in my throat was choking me. I felt so helpless. This little life, and there was nothing I could do. I gently picked him up and carried him to the edge of the yard where we have large holly bushes and ground cover and placed him there. At least he would have some protection from predators and the weather. So little, so fragile, so helpless – what could I have done? What should I have done? I just do not know at this point? I felt so helpless and totally useless? A creature of our great and loving God was hurt and I only moved the little life to a shelter and left him there to die. God have mercy upon me and forgive me for my selfishness.

I find myself of late looking for meaning in everything. It was not more than a month ago that I was standing in the back yard when I heard a buzzing sound, and when I turned around, there was a humming bird hovering just a few feet away from me and at eye level. He just hovered there for a few seconds, looking right at me, I said hello little one, and then he turned and flew away! I could not help but wonder if this was the same bird, and how he came to be injured.

I don’t know what all this means, if it means anything at all. But for now, I am feeling that God is revealing to me a truth about creation and “living” life. That truth is that “living” is a struggle and that there are no promises or guarantees of anything save the breath in our lungs. I live in the certainty that at some point I will die and there is nothing I can do about that certainty. I live in the certainty that loved ones may become sick, injured and die at some point, and there is nothing I can do about that outcome either. Just as I was unable to prevent the injury and subsequent death of that precious bird, I am powerless to stop such events and outcomes in my life and the lives of those dear to me.

The question that remains is how will I “Live” Life with these truths. Will I let these truths paralyze me to the point that I am unable to experience and “Live” in the love and joy of those that love me? Let this not be so! Let me “Live” in joy and peace. I am certain that God desires these things for me and those near to me. Yet, that is the very thing I have absolute control over. How I respond to the “things” that “happen” to me, around me and because of me is mine and mine alone! I own my behavior, thoughts and feelings and the expression of those same behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.

I pray that God will grant me peace and strength to “live” in the joy of the gifts I have been given and to know God is in and through all that is around me and yet to come to me. I love my family and nothing will change my love for them or their love for me! Someone once said “Life Is For The Living!” How true if you are not alive with the love of God you are not “LIVING”! I pray to be ALIVE with the Love of God, for God,  for Others!