Yesterday I watched as two tiny robins spend the day building a nest on my front porch. As they worked diligently to bring straw, sticks, and other materials necessary for the nest, it struck me how our world is changing in unprecedented ways, yet the birds appeared oblivious to the pandemic, school closings, and stock market crash. They chirped from the time I woke up to the time I went to sleep. Nothing deterred them from the task at hand. They weren’t worried or afraid. Every year, the robins build a nest. For them, nothing had changed.
“Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.” (Matthew 6:26, emphasis mine)
As I pondered these words, I asked myself some hard questions. Am I like the birds, prepared yet without fear? Or am I holed up, hoarding my things from others, afraid of what might come? Did you know that the phrase “fear not” is used 366 times in the Bible! That’s one time for every day of the year! I think God knew we’d need the reminder to not be afraid. Uncertainly makes me anxious and uncomfortable, but it also draws me closer to my purpose. I want to turn my anxiety into care for others through my words and actions.
Fear results in procrastination but faith brings action.
What does change inspire you to do? Maybe it’s the book you’ve wanted to write for years, but have procrastinated out of fear of failure. Perhaps you’ve wanted to homeschool your children but never followed through because you didn’t believe you could do it. Here is your opportunity to rise above your fears and take action. To complete something you never expected you could. To help someone in need in a way you never dreamed possible. Here is your time. Here is your chance. Let’s live like the birds, prepared yet unafraid, knowing we are valuable and loved.
Verse taken from The Living Bible translation.
Great message! I think this pandemic is a reminder that we really don’t control anything. It’s all God’s. He controls it all. Our money, health, business, families, stock market, government and so on. We can be cautious and also generous. Yes! Businesses and people are going to be hurt by the corona virus; people are staying in more, places are closed, people are fearful. I work for a lady who owns a small business. Brand new location…great business this first week. Now not many people shopping. Some are concerned about spending money. We have no control. But if we know the God in Heaven Who created it all, we can have confidence that that same God is in control! In the meantime, I think the thing we need to do is to show the love of God by helping others. If that means calling neighbors when we go to the store to see if they have a need (especially elderly neighbors) then we should do that. This will pass. Then we will all have toilet paper in our stores again and we will all be able to go back to Disney World and sporting events. Maybe it’s just a time for us to reflect on what’s really important in life.
Great visual picture of the birds building their nest and timely interpretation. The pandemic isn’t slowing down the onset of spring either. The flowers are blooming and buds are bursting forth. Time for us also to bloom where we are planted.