Spring

 It didn't seem that long since the leaves on the Sugar Plum tree in my front yard had held on for too long. Fall had passed and winter was beginning to bring its' gray skies. Still the leaves held on, failing to turn their usual bright orange and yellow, falling star shapes across the grass in my front yard.

Now, new green buds were beginning to bloom, ready with spring's green leaves. The winter was long and dreary, colder and grayer than most. Still the time flew so that it didn't seem as though it could actually be spring!

I bought bird seed and filled my bird feeder, hoping to enjoy the neighborhood birds as they traveled from tree to tree. It brought me joy as they alighted on the little blue bird house with white shutters, filled with seeds. 

My cats wandered in and out of the front door, enjoying these first signs of Spring, but skittish at the sound of cars. My usual contentment faded at times, not that I didn't trust God to provide, but feeling somehow that I didn't belong. . . not in my usual sense of belonging in all the many places in my life.

What does that mean? Could change be around the corner? My ducks are not in a row yet, my plans are not falling into place. . . but even so, I trust in my God who loves me and provides.

My God will meet all of your needs according to His glorious riches through Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4:19

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

One of my favorite places in all the world is sitting on my front porch watching and listening to the birds. Today is a cool day and a light rain has been falling. There is a dove searching tentatively through the grass for seeds.

From the dove's perspective, looking directly in front of him, the supply of seed may seem limited or sparse. From my perspective, I can see the bird feeder directly above which is filled with seeds. In addition, I know there is a bag filled with bird seed tucked away in my laundry room, ready to refill the bird feeder! 

As the sun starts to peek out from behind the clouds, shining on the morning, it's brightness reminds me of God's perspective. He is our provider and knows the abundance waiting for us. We, on the other hand, can only see directly in front of us, tentatively trusting that our needs will be met, not knowing what lies ahead. 

As I have been sitting here, writing and pondering, I have been joined by a brightly colored woodpecker, a red cardinal, a couple of bluejays, two more doves and a sparrow. They are all provided for by our Father in Heaven as are we. 

Matthew 6:25-27

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?