What a Little Bird Told Me

I'm going to springboard off Robin's post having to do with birds and God's care for His creation. I thought it was interesting that Robin was the one who posted about birds because you see, my favorite bird is the robin. And, I have always liked the feminine use of the name Robin. So, today I'm going to post about robins, for your encouragement.

Maybe one reason I like robins is because I grew up in Maine where the winters are long and cold. It used to be fun to see who was the first to spot a robin in late March for this was to us the harbinger of spring. Another reason I like robins is because their eggs are tiny and oh so pretty. Robin's egg blue. Another reason is because I think a robin is fun to watch as it labors to pull up a juicy worm out of the defrosting earth. I would sit and watch as the robin, after succeeding to loosen its meal from the ground lifted its head triumphantly and let that worm slide down its throat. Then the robin would begin again, only this time instead of swallowing the worm, it flew off with worm dangling between its beak happy to bring dinner home to the family. And finally, I love the robin's song. It goes something like this "cheerUP!, cheer, cheer, cheer, cheerUP!!"

In His word God uses nature to bring illustration to the truth about Himself, ourselves, our world, sin, etc. (Isn't that kind of God-to reveal His truth in such a way as to connect to our every day lives?) So, following God's example I'm using Mr. and Mrs. Robin Redbreast and what these birds can teach us about God and about ourselves.

As Robin told us in her post, God provides for all creatures, even those without souls. How much more must He care for us, His image bearers and His redeemed ones? God provides for all our needs. Usually that provision comes through giving us healthy bodies and alert minds to do labor. We often take that for granted. We are quick to thank God when we bow our head for our food (and well we should), but how quick are we to thank Him for our labor? For our job? For our husband's job? When the alarm goes off on a Monday morning it isn't easy to give thanks for having to get up and go to work is it? But that is exactly how God is providing for our needs. As a woman do you find it easy to grumble and complain about our work in providing meals for our families (the food shopping, the lines, the traffic, the expense, the effort to prepare the meals, the routine of it all)? But this is exactly how God ordained to provide for our daily bread - through our labors.

Just as the robin does not stay in its nest waiting for food to fall out of the sky but is seen at the first light of day (the early bird gets the worm), so should we rise early and thank God for the ability to work which is His provision for our families.* Usually in our house when someone gives thanks for a meal, they include in that prayer a mention of thanks for the "hands that prepared it." When it is my turn to give thanks I often include in my prayer a word of thanks for my husband who works hard to provide for our family and in our case I thank God for the church who faithfully supports us. I believe this pleases God, honors my husband and teaches our children how God has graciously provided for our needs; from His heart through their father, through the church.

We aren't always thankful for labor. Labor is what it is: work. But when we can enjoy the fruits of our labors, whether it be a studio apartment, a home, a meal, a bed to sleep in, we can always give thanks to the One who gives us the strength to work. So, instead of grumbling why not adopt the robin's song, and "cheerUp, cheer, cheer, cheer, CheerUP!!" and be truly thankful for the work God has called you to (Ecclesiastes 2:24,25).

*if you are a woman whose husband is out of work, or you are single and struggling to make ends meet, or your health is preventing you from working, please re-read Robin's post from yesterday. God cares for you.